Source document: https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1698941634629.pdf (Uganda)
CLERK TO 1 lr , - ,\|f, llil o IVED RECE 8Ox 7178, PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA T) ) REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON HUMAN RIGHTS ON THE STATE OF HUMAN RIGHTS AITD HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS IN THE COUNTRY FROM JANUARY 2O2O TO-DATE.

f+4 L S P OFFICE OF THE CLERK TO PARLIAMENT JULY 2022 Uk:'' 2 TABLE OT CONT Y 7 2 3 4 sP 6 6 6 9 9 INTRODUCTION scoPt...............

METHODOLOGY.
METHODOLOGY.

F'AID',I\ICS A.ND RECO IMENDATIONS 4,1 UGANDA HUMAI{ RIGHTS COMMISSION IUHRC) 4.1.1 Complainls regbtered bg the Uganda Human Righls Commission since Jaftuary 2A2O b-d.ate.

............ ... ... ... ......... -.............. 9 4.1.2 Depnuatioft ofthe Nght to Life........ ............................... 11 4.1.3 Petpetrators oJ torture/ Depiuahon bA sea)itA personnel .

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-..... -........ ... ... ... .


12 4.1.4 Alleged disappearances of persotls .- ..............................14 4.1.5 Joint OperaLions by UPDF, CMI, UPFandISO.... .......-...... ...........17 4.1.6 Inuestigations Cond cted at Kitaua Prison Afiet 2O21 Electlb[s.....................- 17 4.1.7 Alleged Tonure of Mr Kokuenza RulnrabashaiJa and.

Mr Masereka Samuel .

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LB 4.1.8'IheUgandaHumanRightsCommissionTribunalHeaings..............................2l 4.1.9 Competlsatioi for uictinls of tollure a d other h man ights uiolatiotls.

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.22 4.1.10 Funding for the Ugand@ Human Rtghts Commission - Democratic GoDennnce FacilitA PGF)............ ...................................23 4.2 COMPLAINTS R.EGISTERED AND ADDRESSED BY KAMPALA CAPITAI crTY AUTHORTTY (KCCA)................. 27 4.2.1 Alleged.
Assault bg a one Kamara GeofJreA, KCCA LalD enforcement c,ssistr]r,t.27 4.2.2 Complaint No.

UHRC/ 18/ 2A 19 Nassanga Kofa ]IAWA aru7 KCCA ..................24 4.2.3 Legal Brains Trust (LBT) Limited Vs. KCCA and.

AG Misc.

Application No.

256 of 2O2O, ari,sing liom Misc.

Cause No.

98 of2O2O .


........................2a 4-2.4 KCCA sto.ffinjured dlting operahot$ ....--.-.....................29 4-2.5 KCCA operations in the gender-bo.sed uiolence arena............-..-..-..-....--.......-...29 4.3 COMPLAINTS REGISTERED AND ADDRESSED BY UGANDA WILDLIFE AUTHORITY {I'WA} 4.3.1 Land.
disputes or for@f1l euictiotls ... 4.3.2 Disputes ouer conpensation............ 4.3.3 Issues raised bA AmnesU Intemational in respect of tlrc Benet communitA aroundMountE19onNationa|Park................ 4.3.4 Torture chambers in nationel parks.
4.3.5 Interuentions urulefiaken bg UWA to mit@ate t nan ights uolations in tlE gozetted area.s...... 4.4 HUMAN RIGHTS CIIALLENGES IMHE RWENZORI SUBREGIOIT: THE XASESE MASSACRES OF NOVEMBER 2016 38 4.5 CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANTSATION (CSO) PERSPECTIVE...................... 41 4.5.1 The Foundationfot Hutuln RAhLs tnitiatiue (FHRI) ........................................41 ............................35 ...............................36 ........-.....32 ..............................32 .........................34 ..................................36 49 4.5.3 Human Rights and Peace Centre: Makerere University School of Law-........... 4.5.4 Human Rights Watch Perspective on The State of Human Rights in Uganda.
4.5.5 L ganda Journalisrs Assocjation..... 4,6 POLITICAL PARTIES REPRESENTED IN PARIIAMENT.. 4.6.1 National Resistance Movement (NRM) 4.6.2 Nalional Platform (NUP) 56 61 63 68 6A 70 Page 2 4 6.3 Forum for Democratic Change.

4.6.4 Uganda People's Congr:ess IUPC) ................................... 46.5 Submission By the t-€ader of Opposition ... .. ........... 4.?
AILEGED HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS BY RDCS 75 ?7 78 ?9 4.7.1 PolicA position of the Presidencu on mdtlers pertaining to totulre................ ... ...79 4.7.2 Rened.ial action taken again-st RDCS alleged to haue committed acts of torture 79 4.4 GOVERNMENT'S POSITION ON THE STATE OF HUMAN RIGHTS IN THE COUNTRY SINCE JANUARY 2O2O.
4-8.1 Srrb?nissior" bg the AttoneA General 4.4 2 4.8.3 4.8.4 4.8.5 4_4.6 4.8.7 Minis try of ICT & National Guidance ..... ... ... .... 4,9 Judlclal consideration of cases of torture The Uga-nda Pnsons Senice Submission on Cases of Torture xllinbtry of Foreign A IIairsi.

.

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.. ... .. .

.. .

.. ... .... Submiss,on bA t1.


@ Minktet Ior Intemal Affairs ....................... Oifice ofthe Director oI Public Prosecutions (ODPP) .............. Submission by the Ministry of Defence and Vetemn Affairs .

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.

4 9.1 4.9.2 4 9.3 The Constitutional Court.

The Hrgh Court...............

Torture in crimina-l trials.

5 COI,ICLUSIO ..83 ,., 83 ... 88 .111 .113 .121 .

125 .130 l3l .

t32 .

133 .134 136 Yn * ""oP 6,.Jx.
]f C ,e Page 3 o 0 LIST OF ACRONYMS UHRC DGF KCCA LBT UWA CSO FHRI ACTV Victims UJA NRM NUP FDC UPC LoP RDC ODPP O FPU CMI LDU CDF ISO JLOS RSAs NIRA ) €, Uganda Human Rights Commission Democratic Governance Facility Kampala Capital City Authority Legal Brains Trust Uganda Wildlife Authority Civil Society Organization {Y Foundation for Human Rights Initiative African Centre for Treatment and Rehabilitation of Torture Ugalda Journalists' Association National Resistance M National Unity Platform Forum for Democratic Change Uganda People's Congress kader of the Opposition Resident District Commissioner Offrce of the Director of Public Prosectrtion Fisheries Protection Unit Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence Local Defence Unit Chief of Defence Forces Internal Security Orgar-ris ation Justice, Law, and Order Sector- Resident State Attorneys ational Identihcation & Registration Auth ty Page 4 of 150 CID MDAs NGOs Criminal Investigation Department Ministries Departments ard Agencies Non-Governmental Organizations '{u- -K lr1, 1 p.J- Page 5 of 150 € 1 INTRODUCTION ;2 The Committee on Humar Rights is a Standing Committee of Parliament.
It derives its mandate from Rule 185 of the Rules of Procedure of Parliament.
The Committee, arnong others is enjoined to; a) to track and repotT on human ights concerns in euery business handled bg Parliament: b) to monitor Gouemment compliqnce u.tith nationat and intentational human ights instruments to t hich Uganda is a partA qnd follol, up on Gouemment peiodic repotts to intetnationat human rtghts monttoring bodies; c) exqmine the recommendations in the Uganda Human Rights Commtssion reports and ensure that Gouernment is held accountable in this regard; d) to inquire into ang matter relating to Luman ights in Uganda; and e) carry out such other functions relating to human ights as mag be assigned to it bg Parliament under these Rules or ang other taut in force.
Rt Hon.

Spea]<er, during the Sixth Sitting of the Third Meeting of the First Session of the 11th Parliament of Ugalda held on T\resday, 8 February 2022, the House directed the Committee to inquire into the state of humal rights ard human rights violations in the country from JarruarJr 2O2O to date.
This was in response to public outcry regarding numerous allegations of enforced punity by security forces and torture by disappearances, both state and n illegal deten on-state act 2 SCOPE 0 of its inquiry to the period from January The Co 2020 to June 2022.
Tt'e Committee, also inquired into the prolonged restricted th ntion of the Royal Guards of the Obusinga Bwa who ha been in detention since November 2016 3 METHODOLOGY Oa To execute this mandate, the commlttee used a multipronged approach which included: a) holding meetings with Ministries, Departments ard Agencies, political parties, Non-Governmental Organisations, informal groups of persons and several individuals mentioned stakeholders Annual Reports of the Ugarda niversal Declaration of Human d# Page 6 of 1 \ €r.
I I I I I t !

I t I I I I I I I T I I I I Rights, Uganda's Reports to the United Nations Universal Periodic Review (UPR) and resolutions ard declarations passed by different Iegislative bodies such as the Inter Parliamentary Union and the European Parliament specifically relating to Uganda.
d) reviewing statutory provisions goveming the protection and promotion of humar rights e) reviewing judicial decisions ih respect of human rights liti 0 attending workshops arrd seminars organised by the Uganda Human Rights Commission ard the Ofhce of the High Commissioner for Human Rights g) the Committee co-opted technical personnel from the Ofhce of the Directorate of Public Prosecution (ODPP), the Ugarda Police Force (UPF), Uganda Human RiBhts Commission (UHRC) and the Uganda Law Society (ULS).
Note: The nominee from ULS did not participate Committees' activities related to this inquiry.

y of the The non exhaustive list of stakeholders mentioned in (a)ard (b) includes: i.

Minister lor Presidency ii.

Ministry of Defence and Veteran Affair iii, Ministry of Foreign Affairs CB-- -.
!LX 6 Ministry of cender, Labour and Social Development Ministry of ICT ar-rd National Guidance Ministry of Intema-l Affairs/Directorate of Immigration The Minister for Security/Internal Security Orgaiisation The Attorney-Gene ra l Karnpala Capital City Authority Ofhce of the Director of Public Prosecutions Uganda Communications Comm ission Uganda Human Rights Commission Ugalda Police Force Uganda Prisons Service Uganda Wildlife Authority Ofhce of the UN High Commissioner Human Rights The European Union - Delegation to Ugarda and The EU Special Representative for Human Rights African Centre for Treatment and Rehabilitation of T (ACTV) Foundation for Human Rights Initiative (FHRI) Human Riehts and Peace Centre - Materere University Victims vii viii ix x 'xl ' x1v xv xvi xvii xvlll xix iw* 6,1 Page 7 of 150 -t )o<1 >o.ii )o<111 )o<iv )oG/ xxvi xxvii >c.<viii Human Rights Watch MPs from Kasese District: Hon.
Atkins Katusabe and Hon.

Harold Muhindo National Association of Broadcasters Political Parties represented.

in Parliarnent: the National Resistance Movement, National Unity Platform, Forum for Democratic Change, Uganda People's Congress, People's Progressive Party arrd the Justice Forum.

Torture victims Uganda Christian University - Human Rights Association Ugalda Journalists Association Uganda Parliamen tary Press Association $ ) & Y {,.
Page 8 of 15O 5gr" € 4 FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS 4.I UGANDA HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION (UHRC) Rt Hon, Spealier, Article 51 of the Constitution provides for the Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC) as an independent national human rights institution, with jurisdiction over all parts ofthe country.

It is the lead agency in promoting and protecting human rights, and handling cases of abuse and infringement.

The body receives, investigates and hears cases ofhuman rights violations.
The Commission is responsible for monitoring Government compliance with international human rights obligations artd standards UHRC has 11 regional offices and 10 held oflices 4.1.7 Complairtrts reglstered.

bg tLe Ugo.nd.a Humqn Rlghts Commission since Jqnuqry 2O2O to-d@te.

In fulfilment of the mandate of the Commission under Article 52 of th Constitution, during the period under review - Jarruar]r 2O2O to Jaruary 2022, the Commission recorded 1,205 complaints of alleged human rights, violations.

Rt Hon.
Speaker, the alleged humar rights violations were in part due to 1 1t The COVID-19 pandemic that ravaged the country it 2O2O aled 2021; and the control measures instituted by government in order to curb its read; The enforcement of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPS) related to the mitigation of the spread of COVID-19 111 Political activities related to the Jarvarv 2O2l General Elections The complaints received by UHRC fall under the specific categories lis below: L ($r w-" L Page 9 of 150 SN Category No.
of Cases Recorded l Tolture or cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment 11 Deprivation of personal liberty/detention beyond 48 hours 111.
Deprivation of the right to life l) Perpetrators of torture/Deprivation by security personnel Disappearance of persons -:.lt 443 374 90 71 65 offir*n.", number of co in(u)rLan or degrading trea of personal liberty/detention beyond 48 hours (378) to UHRC was torture or cruel, tment or punishment (443), followed by deprivation b The Commission, informed the Committee that persons arrested by non- uniformed security personnel or those without name tags cannot identii/ their gaolers.
The victims may only be able to identify the vehicles or uniforms of the arresting ofhcers and locatjons where they are (were) eventually held.

The majority of the complaints received by the Commission lack information regarding the names of the people who allegedly arrested or tortured them.

The Commission reported to the Committee that some of the law enforcement or security agencies wea-r civilian clothes, sometimes with their faces covered in masks, while those in uniforms lack name taBS.
The identihcation of perpetrators is further compounded when there are joint operations by the Uganda Police Force, UPDF, CMI arld ISO.

Rt.

Hon.

Spealer, freedom from torture is an absolute ald non-derogable right under Arlicle 24 of the Constitution.

The Committee resolved from the outset to work towards total eradication oftorture and the creation ofa torture free country.
To achieve this, the Committee conducted parallel investigati and veriflcation of information supplied by UHRC to ascertain the authentici of information arrd action taten to address the c recorded agailst )w: c, t entities rivate individuals Cq Page 10 of i \ I I I I I I I I I I I I I !

I t T I I I I I I I I I I t I I I !

I I I I I I I I I The Committee notes that there was arbitrary deprivation of the right to liberty because of wronglul procedure of airest by Poiice and security agencies.
Most suspects were held incommunicado and were not informed of the cases against them Rt Hon.

Speater, il developed democracies, law enforcement and security agencies require their oflicers to read the suspect th sts The Miranda warning commonly uses statements eir rights during "You haue tlLe ight to remqin silent.

AnAthing Aou saA can and.

tutll be used against Aou in a court of lqw.

You haDe the right to an attomeA.

If gou cannot afford an attorneg, one will be prouided.

for gou.
for gou.

Do Aou und.erstand the ights I have just read to Aou?

With these ights in mind., d.o Aou wish to speqk to me?"

Article 23(3) of the Constitution of the Republic of Uganda m provisions protecting this fundament right of a person's Iiberty.

It states: (3) A person arrested, restricted or detained shall be info immediately, in a language that the person understands, of the reasons for the arrest, restriction or detention a]1d of his or he.

right to a la of his or her choice.


s1milar Any arrest conducted in violation of article 93 of the Constitution and the Mirarlda's principle espoused above would amount to arbitrary de tio of the right to liberty The CommilAee recommend.s that the laut enJorcement qnd securltg a.gencles should qluqgs weqr nq.

'7[:e tags and ldentifg thernselaes to all the suspects theg artest and.

d.etqin durlng their oper@tLo/1s.

4.7.2 Deprivation o!


the Right to Lile Article 22 of the Constitution recognises the right to life as a human ri \ The Committee noted that UHRC reported 90 cases of alleged depdvation of the right to life.

However, the report did not contain ary additional information on how each case was handled arld the status of said the cases.

Depdvation oI the .ight to life constitutes gross violation of humar rights that should be addressed aggressively and expeditiously at all times.
The Committee took exception to the laxity with which the 90 cases of the alle deprivation of the right to life was haldled mmlsslon.

the Co w.---------' <_ Page 1l of150 f5^,.- The Committee notes that UHRC should have put more emphasis on these allegations and invested resources on investigating all the 90 cases under this category.
The Committee recommends that in all instances where UHRC recelves complaints pertaiaing to the deprlvatioa of the right to life, it should only deal with the clvil aspects of competrsation and refet the criminal aspects to the Offlce of the Director of Publlc Prosecution (ODPP) for oses of a(raigning the perpetrators in court.

It should also follow up each case it refers to the ODPP until final disposal by the coutts.
4.7.3 Perpetrators ol torture/Depritqtlon bg secu"itg persoflnel Article 52(1)(a) of the Constitution provides that the Comrnission sha.ll investigate complaints made by ary person or group of persons against the violation of arly human rights.

The Commission registered and investigated 443 complaints of alleged violation of the right to freedom from torture.
The Soroti regional office recorded the highest number of complaints (112), followed by the Fort Portal regional office, 78, Central regional office, 77, while the lowest number of cases were recorded in the Arua regional office, 1 1 .

The Committee was informed that the highest number of complaints of torture at the Soroti regional office, were as a result of enforcement by the Fisheries Protection Unit of the Uganda People's Defence Forces in the districts of Serere, Amolatar aIId Kaberamaido.
The Committee was given a breakdown of the cases perpetrated by law enforcement and security agencies.

These cases were attributed to the enforcement of the Standard operating Procedures to mitigate the spread of COVID 19 by law enforcement and security agencies.

Below is a tabulation of entities during the period ber of complaints registered against various re\1ew tr.

\,) o.
\,) o.

Entity Frequeacy Reported cases of - Uganda Police Fo[be (ii) Ugalda People's Defence Forces 214 164 ,E 12 1 ^ E\,,, ,r s" T I I I I I I I I !
I I I I I I I I I I I (iii) (iv) (u) (vi) (vii) (viii) (k) (") (xi) (xii) (xiii) (xiv) ("u) Private Individuals Uganda Prisons Uganda Wildlife Authority LC 1 Chairpersons Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence Internal Security organisation Resident District Commissioners National Forestry Authority Clarl Leaders Private Companies Private Security Companies Remald Homes Chief Administrative Ofhcers 18 11 07 06 05 05 o2 o2 02 o1 01 Total 469 6 Note: Whereas UHRC received and investigated only 443 complain ts, some s the complaints are made against more than one entity.
This explain complaints against these entities tabulating to a higher number - 469.

Evidence shows that the perpetrators of torture are not limited to law enforcement and security agencies.

The perpetrators include both state arld non-state actors.

Rt Hon.
Rt Hon.

Speaker, the government position in respect of torture was presented to the Committee by the Minister for Defence, the Minister for Security, the ster for Intemal Affairs, the Attorney General, the Minister for rmation and National Guidance, the Inspector General of Police and the ssioner-General of Prisons, inter alia.

The Committee was informed that the Government of Ugaida does not condone torture.

To the contrary, the Government policy is ZERO Toleralce to torture.
To underscore this position, evidence was availed to the Committee of a written presidential directive to all security agencies, (qt+qched @s annex ,, to refrain from tortu of humal rights abu all fo I 13 of 150 €'4 ) I T !

I T I I I I These agencies fufther stated that punitive action is always taken against individuals who use their position to torture people- They concurred that there are individua,l rogue elements within the forces who use torture to extract information from suspects.
Tte Committee recommends th@t: // t. tl The Gouernrnent tqkes deliberate stet s to pft)t,flotz o. cltlfire of respect Ior humo,n rlghes.

It is, therelore, essentiq.l to edwcate both the le@dets afld citizens oa their roles in ensuri^g thqt humq.n rlghts are respected.

and.

protEcted.. Goaernrnenl should alw@gs provlde parllam.ent ulth a lTst ol persons tried.for humqfl ighb ulol4,tio,1,s @nd the punitiae q.ctioa tq,ke,t agqinst them.

fli.
fli.

Perpetuqtors o.f hunan rights violqtlons shouw be relieaed o,f their public duties.

ia.

fhe liq.bittg to compensate victims ol torture must be bolate bg the perpetuo.tors personallg and.

govenment should ensure it is paid.

promptlg.

Golternment should put in plqce m,echo,nisms lot rehq.bilitqtlon o.f victints of torture.

the a. ,,,VJ ut.

"q TrLe Ugo.nd.o.

Police Force should.

concktsioelg lnaestigate tlle co.ses reportcd under the period in revteu q.ad.
submit the files to ODPP lor prosecution A report of i''[lrreme'[tatlo'n ol this p@rtlculot recotnmend.qtion should be subm:il+ed to Pa:rllo,rne'[t withit.

o. period.

of six (6) month.s.

vii.

Wheft stqteme token.

4 AUeged is to.ken agq,i'tst @ perpet'ator of torture, o. qctlon ld.

be iss.ued.
be iss.ued.

in the med.la on the rances o.f Persons v The Committee was informed that between the mon of Januarv 2O2O and March 2021, the Uganda Human Rights Commission received 65 complaints of alleged disappearances of persons in the districts of Kyotera, Mukono, Kampala, Wakiso, Mpigi, Pa,llisa, Bundibu$/o and Mityana.
The Comrnission investigated the complaints through recording eye witness statements arld followed up on the whereabouts of the victims with the law g'e- W-""' t " Page 14 of 1flr enforcement ard security agencies alleged to have arrested and detained these persons- The Commission specifically engaged the Ugarda People's Defence Forces, the Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence arld the Ugalda Police Force.
A.ising from the investigations by the Commission, 60 of the 65 missing persons have since been found- The five who are allegedly still missing are: John Damulira Matthew Kafeero Matthew Kigozi Sarah Namayanja Agnes Nabwire slnce since since since since 21, 27 23 23 November November November December December 2020 2020 2020 2020 2020 HRC made a subsequent submission in which the list persons was updated to include an additional two (2) names dmi 1.
George Kasumba Ibrahim Chekede since 8 Jaluary 2021 since 14 December 2021 Alleged complaints concerning missing persons were registered against the following entities: i. Uganda People's Defence Forces 48 ii.

Chieftaincy of Milita5r lntelligence 8 iii.

Uganda Police Force 4 iv.

Interna-l Security Organisation 2 \ The Committee was informed that UHRC interviewed ssing persons who were lound or released from detention.
Those who claimed to have been tortured in detention were referred to the African Centre for Treatment and Rehabilitation of Torture Victims (ACTU for medical assessment .md treatment as part of the investigation and management process.
respect of the seven (7) persons allegedly still missing, UHRC reported that continues to engage with the Uganda Police Force to trace their I bouts The Commission also reported that it advised the families of the victims to obtain orders of H.Ibeq,s Corpus from the courts of law.
The Famil Damulira John obtained orders of Hq.beqs Corpus but all deny having him in thei custody curity 83" Page 15 of 15O ' The Committee was further informed that immediately belore and after the Jallrj.aty 2027 elections (November 2020 to February 2021),71people were reported missing.

The breakdown per distdct is as follows: 1. ii.

iii.

iv.

vi.

vii.

viii.

Mukono Kyotera Kampala Mpigi Wakiso Mityara Bundiburyo Pallisa 20 18 11 08 06 06 01 01 Rt Hon.
Speaker, information obtained by the Committee showed that alleged victims were released in areas of Kir,rl,,u, Kiwala ald Mbalala in Mukono district, in Nansana ald Kakiri in Wakiso district, in Mbizinya ald Buwarna in Mpigi district and in Kyabadaaza in Masaka district.

ome of the released persons a11ege to have been freed from the Special Investigations Unit in Kireka, Wakiso district while others contend they were produced in court and remanded to Kitalya Prison.
The Conmilrtee notes uith concen (Illegatio'rs ol ,nisslng persons qad recornmend.s that the Ug@ndo.

Police Force shouu expedltc the process o.f tracing the whereabouE o.f the persons.

're'at should.

put in The CommiLtee lurther recommends thqt gotern place measures and.

build.

capecltg to account tor eaery citizen and.

q.lie'r lfl its iurisd.ictlon.


''I:lssing ilU*-'/", c tJ Page 16 of 150 4.I.5Joint Operations by UPDF, CMI, UPF and ISO Sections 42, 43 and 44 of the Uganda Peoples Defence Forces (UPDF) Act, allows UPDF offlcers to aid civil power, and may have powers ofpolice ofhcers.
Section 42 stipulates: "The Defence Forces, and ang officer i.s liobte to be called out for seruice ia aid of civit pouer in anA case in which a iot or di.sturbance of the peace occatrs or is, in the opinion of the appropiate ciuil authoritA likelA to occur, if in the opinion of the appropiate ctuil al,LtlDitA th.e riot or disturbance of the peace ties to suppress or preDent".
is likelg to be begond the pouers of the ciutt The Committee noted that in some instances joint op conducted in accordance with the law.

In some cases, there were that the UPDF operated singularly tions were not ns The Committee further received complaints that unidentifred, mas gunmen riding in unregistered vehicles also known as *drones" afies people.
The Committee expressed concern that criminal gangs may exploit the use ofunregistered vehicles to commit crimes if the security agencies continue using the sarne to effect arrest.

It further tasked the Attorney General to communicate to all the security agencies to use only registered motor vehicles for purposes of their operations The I w The Jolnt operqtions between the Police, WDF itte e rec ornme n ds that : other secuitg should be conducted, ln qccord,qnce sections 42, 43, 44 ttt.
and 45 oJ tLe WDF Act, 2OO5.

The secudty @gencies should.

desistlrom the use of excessiae lorce tDhen arresting people.

The 74-seqter ao,,fs (drones) 7,/sed co traftsport securitg agents lor operatlons sho'lld be reglstered uith the Ugqnda Reaenue Authorttg qnd qssrg^ed number plates ln accord.q.nce ulith the law.

ia.

The Uganda Police Force should ahoags to,ke the lead in qll Joint oper@tloas and shourd be q.ccountq,ble Ior the operq.tlons.

4.7.6 Inestigqtlons Conducted.

dt Kltq.lga.


Prison Aftet 2O27 Elections The Committee was informed that on 18 March 2021, the UHRC conducted investigations at Kitalya Prison and recorded statements from 87 inmates who remanded on charges rclated to t}r,e 2021 alleged to have be Genera-l Elections.

ted w.* Page 17 of 150 M et.

Rt Hon.


Speaker, UHRC reported that the inmates informed them that some had been arrested in Kalangala by the Uganda People's Defence Forces (35), while accomparying the National Unity Platform Presidential Candidate, Hon.

Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, on his campaign trail.

Others alleged to have been arrested from various parts of Kampala and Wakiso by the Chieftaincy of Military Inteligence (52).
The Committee was informed that ttrese suspects were initially charged with offence of engaging in acts likely to spread an infectious disease (breaching COVID-19 SOPs).

After a while, the chargesheets for a number of them were amended by the inclusion of the offence of being in possession of stores that are the preserve of the UPDF. )
e Committee Doted with concern that the stores that are the exclusive preserve of the UPDF should have been discovered and exhibited on the day of the arrest and that the initial charge sheets should have reflected that fact.

The fact that it didn't, raises fundarnental credibility questions in respect of the investigations and the motives of the charges.
ln order for the country to protect arrd preserve the culture of politica-l pluralisrn, it is important for all state actors to desist from using the law to selectively curtail the political parlicipation of sections of the ation 'fhe Committee ?ecommends thot: {Yh {-/ G) (ii) (iii) Gouernrnent should.

d,esist lrom motiaq,ted.

ar7.ests and.

prosecutlons.

politicarlg Government should cause @ revieu o.f atl the 87 cq,ses and report to pqrliqnent withl,l q perTod of six t toftlhs.
Goaernment of the crtminqlitg.

tlv exped.itlous, Jree and, fair tial there is sullicie 4,7.7 Al ne OT ifr, Ruklrc,bashalja and Mr Maserekq I Rt.

Hon.

Speaker, Uganda domesticated the United Nations Conventi against Torture (UNCAT) and crimina-lised torture through the enactment ntion and Prohibition of Torture Act, 2012, comrnonly the Preve PPTA.

to as A' Section 12 of the PPTA provides that "torture" means any act which severe pain or suffering whether or mental, o-hvsical 4."
ssion, by tionalty 18 of 50 IS P $ inflicted on any person by or at the instigation of or with the acquiescence of any person whether a public ofhcial or other person acting in arl oflicial or private capacity for such purposes as - a obtaining information or a confession from the person or any other person; \] punishing that person for an act he or she or any other person has committed or is suspected to have committed or of plalning to or c) intimidating or coercing the person or any other person to do or to refrain from doing, any act.
Rt Hon, Speal<er, the Committee observed, without prejudice in court, that there is cogent evidence to show that Rukirabashaija was tortured by persons yet to be identified.

Mr edings UHRC informed the Committee that it made efforts to ascertain wh r Kakwenza Rukirabashaija was detained and whether he was produced in court to face charges.

AJter arraignment and remand to Kitalya Prison, UHRC visited the Prison to ascertain his condition and urged him to lodge a complaint.
At the time of the Committee's interface with UHRC, Mr ukirabashaija had not lodged a formal complaint UHRC reported that they learnt that he had left the country d Rt Hon.
Speal<e!, the UHRC reached out to Mr Sarauel Masereka, the National Unity Platform Registrar for Kasese District, with a view of commencing investigations into his alleged torture, but they were informed that he had opted to file a civil suit in the High Court It should be noted that the Constitution and the Humar Rights Enforcemen Act, 2019 provide options for enforcement ofrights in both Courts of l,aw and at the Uganda Humal Rights Commission artd citizens may choose to lodge their complaint with the Commission or with the courts of law.
Therefore, when one chooses to file their case in court, the Commission does not intervene in accordance with Article 53(4) of the Constitution.

Rt Hon.

Speaker, the Court ofAppeal in Civil Appeal No.

91 of 2021 between Paul Wanyoto Mugoya and Sgt.

Oumo Joshua and the Attorney General carvased the rights of a torture victim not to be tried.

The court m the following declar orders:- d 6 s.)- Page 19 of 15 lN.----- 1. the uat and actions of the respondent No.
1 as an investigating officer of torturing a one Patrick Mugisha alias Kantu Allan, A4 in Criminal Case No .
75 of 2079 by inserting sticks tied with rubberbands between his fingers commonly known as "baibbuli" and coercing him to hand over his certificate of title and larrd comprised in Busiro Block 312 Plot 841 land at Kalambi that was eventually sold to the applicant, violated, contravened and inlringed upon the said Kantu Allal's non- derogable rights arld freedoms from torture, cruel inhumal and degrading treatment guararteed under Article 24 aj.d 44 (al of the Constitution.
J The process leading to the initiation of criminal proceedings against the Applicant under s. 3(3) of the Anti-Money Laundering Act, having acquired the property from the said Patrick Mugisha alias Kantu Allan, who, unknown to the Applicant had been tortured by the Respondent no.
1 before reaching a decision to dispose of the subject property, violates alld contravenes the Applicant's fundamental rights and freedoms to liberty, to just ard fair treatment guararteed under Articles 23, 42 a,ad,4s of the Constitution.

3 The non-derogable rights and freedoms and other fundamental rights ofthe appellant and Patrick Mugisha alias Kantu Allan in Criminal Case NO.

75 of 2019 have been violated ald infringed upon through use of torture by the respondent no.

1.

4.
1.

4.

The trial of the appellant arld Patrick Mugisha alias Kantu in criminal case No.

75 of 2019 is a nullity for the blatant violations arld infringement ofthe accused persons'non derogable rights aid freedoms from torture, cmel, inhuman and degrading treatment, and other human rights and freedoms guarajnteed under Articles 23' 24' 42 atd b a) of the Constitution by the Respondent no.

1 5.
1 5.

The Judge directed the Registraj of the court to transmit to the Director of Fublic Prosecutions, a copy of this judgement, in light of the & functions of the Director of Public Prosecutions 12) of the Cons article tion harges Appellant Patrick Mugisha judgement above M4 {.u Page 20 of 1 5o' The court nullifred alias Kantu Alla-rl.

ttee no e c. 1Lv thqt the Arectar for Public Prosecutions The Cornrnlttee recomrrt.€n,ds should deslst lrom initiqti^g qnd continulng proseqttioft ol uictirns o!

torture.
torture.

4.7.A fhe Ugqndq Human Rights Cornmission Tribunql Heq"ings The Committee was informed that the Uganda Human Rights Commission Tribunal had not convened for a period of two years, following the demise of the Commission Chairperson, Al Hajj Meddie Ssozi Kaggwa on 20 November 2019 and the subsequent delay to appoint a replacement.

UHRC however, resumed tribunal hearings in Jantary 2022, following the appointment of a new Chairperson, Hon.
Mariarn Wangadya and with the eof flnancial support of the Justice, Law and Order Sector (JLOS) to Uganda Shillings One Hundred Million.

UHRC cause listed 218 matters to be heard by the Tribunal for the from Jaruary to March 20221 o];t of these matters, 110 are in respec allegations of torture.
The Committee was further informed that UHRC expected to receive an additional Uganda Shillings T\Vo Hundred Million from the JLOS to facilitat hearing of arr additional 400 cases before l}:'e end, of FY2O2L / Rt Hon.

Speaker, the Commission has only four, out of seven Commls ers which greatly impacts the rate at which the hearings aJe conducted.
In fact, the Committee learned that before the most recent appointment and swearing in of the Chairperson and Members of the Commission, the Commission did not have the requisite legal quorum for almost two years.

This aJfected the operations of the tribuna.ls which carl only be con when the Commission is fully constituted The Committee noted that durilrg this inquiry, the Commrsslon 's Members reduced.

The contracts of two Members expired in January 2022 and one newly appointed member, Hon.

Rev.

Fr.
Rev.

Fr.

Simon Lokodo unfortunately died on 28 Jarlrtary 2022 mmlttee re cofinend.s thqt : the Awointing Authorltg exped.ltiouslg qPp ats Commissioners to the IJHRC qnd en,s1./.res thqt 7t 7s tullg constituted to preside ouet the Comrmissiola Tribuno,l o,nd.

deliaer justice to Ugand@ns.

ii.


cotEnment should talse the UHRC budget ceiling b fand its htding the operatlons ol the TribunqL Wa- qctivities, i&3 { Page {v ,-\..-' P iv i 4.7.9 Compe'asation tor victim.s ol torture and other human rights violqtion,s The Committee was informed that the UHRC does not enforce its awards- However, it works closely with the Office of the Attorney-General and other JLOS institutions to ensure that compensations are made in a timely marrner.
Currently, the Attorney-General coordinates payments, but it is not responsible for actual payment of awards, following the decentralisation of payment of court awards in FY2O15/16.
The tq.ble belou shol./,.s the orders for coflqre,r,sotioI[ and its current stotus; SN Case No corlplai!ant UHRC/JJA/ 1 r s/ 2005 Opio Patrick and another Prlson Unit Tororo Date JudgeEeEt of Award 22 /Os /2OOs UHRC/JJA/ 131/ 2008 UHRC/GLU /23/ 2010 MKN /O93 /2017 (H/CO Kasule Sylvester Buikwe 26109 /201.6 Okwanga John Loro 2a / 11 /2016 Mulooki Henry Kitalya 07 /1O /2017 UHRC/JJA/14/2 010 Dhilnsooka Godfrey Kirinya 22 / 11 /2017 UHRC /FPl /49 /2 008 Bigabwa Ezekeli Kibaale 12 /04 /20|a UHRC/M 2011 43/ Ssebwana Michael Mu sha Masaka 2s /11/2016 () ) 35,O00,O00= (Payment being processed) 30,000,000= (Pa,'ment being processed) 14,000,000= (Pa]'rrlent being processed) 200,000,000= (Payment being processed) 20,000,000= (Pa)'rnent being processed) 5,000,000= (Pa],anent being processed) 4,000,000= (Pa],ment being rrrocessed) 0 L Page 22 of 50 o*.t.
I t I I I T I I I I I I t !
I I t I I t t 8 UHRC/MBA/ 12l 2010 Tukamusherura James Kanungu 221091201.6 30,000,000= (Palment being processed) From the above, the Committee observed that even in cases where the Ugalda Human Rights Commission Tribunal arld Courts of law have done their part in dispensing justice to the victims of torture and other human rights violations, the awards remained unpaid for long periods- In the case of Ugalda Prisons Service there is evidence of awards not paid for up to seventeen (17) years with a claim dating back to 2005 being the oldest.
The Committee notes that the delay in payment of awards is in itself a violation of the rights of the victims.

The Commll*ee recommends thqt the selilenent ol these an tatd.s srtould.

be prioritised since the uictims of these hutnan rlghts rJiolq,tlons olten lose their sou"ce o.f liaerlhood aa,d the abiEtg to m@ke q liuiftg.

The com,,alt tee lur+her 'ecommen,ds that a,l humq.n rights compens@tion @uard.s sLould, be sel+led uithin a period oJ one financial ge@r from tlle dqte oJ q.uqrd.
The Commil*ee recomrneftds thqt MDA9 shourd aaqll to Par st@tus ol qll hurnqn rlghts cotryrensatlon auqrds q,n',;uq.llg.

t@ 4,1.70 Fwndlng for the Ugq.nd.o.
Humqn Rights Commission - Democrq Govemqnce Fqcilitg (DGF) The Committee was informed that the Ugarda Human Rights Commission suffered loss of revenue amounting to Uganda Shillings Ten Billion Twci Hundred Ninefy-Two Mil DGF by the Government lion for the period under review due to the closu The funds had been progranmed to be utilised on various interventions der four development outcome areas contained in UHRC'S previous strategic plan Plar-rned programs were not implemented for ve sources of fundi a1 Mt { Page 23 of 150 ruL--" P. The tabre belou is a summo.ry oJ DGF 2O2O q.nd 2021 per outcome qrea.
funding for the geo.r Total for Year 1 Total for Year 2 Sutn for Yrl +Yr 2 1 ,465 ,266 ,305 2,O17,474,305 552,6r2,OOO 4 ,444 ,263 ,595 392,330,447 4,44O,594,O42 609,629,Oag 274,O91,100 883,72O,189 6,523,15a,99O t,2t9,oss,54?
1,565,623,290 984,318,085 7,742,192,537 2,549,94r,375 SN 1 Outcotne Atea Enhanced observance of human rights and accountability 2 Adequately lnformed empowered cltizenry parlicipates Governance and that in 3 Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Promoted Subtotal for Outcomes (1+2+3) 4 Instltutional Development including Administration Support Gnnd Total flA a,oaa,7a2,2ao 2,2O3,351,632 ro,292,133,9t2 x 2,o At een approved by DGF to be utilised in the ew, under the enhalced observalce of human rights and lwo vears under accountability outcome area by UHRC.
These among others, was for complaints management, involving receipt and e registration of complaints, investigations, mediations, tribunals inspecting detention facilities (Potice, itoring Prisons, UPDF, Remand hom refugee hosting communities.

well as es and the the execution of Additional funding of UGx 4,840,594,042 approved interventions under the outcome aiea of adequately informed arld empowered citizenry that participates in governa-nce.
Under this, UHRC was supposed to conduct countq/wide massive civic education arld humal rights awareness; trainings of security agencies (UPF, UPS, UPDF, ISO and RDCS on human .igh Personnel bservalce in line of duty; ald on welfare of ts or CS e>.
,U 24 UHRC had also secured funding of UGX 883,720,189 for the enhancement of economic, social and cultural rights: monitoring health facilities, monitoring the pre-election events in the country, orientation of Electoral Commission Ofhcials on human rights and observance of human rights; meeting with the Elders'Forum on the 2027 elections; Training of Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) and National Forestry Authority (NFA) on human rights aid a dialogue on l.ulnerable persons.
Under institutiona-l strengthening, a total of UGX 2,549,941,375 had been approved to support payment of allowances for graduate volunteers (FY2O21/2O22 absorbed into the UHRC stalf structure), conduct audits, monito ng and evaluation, hiring vehicles to support regional offices, implement activities arrd subscription to Navigation (a finance management software).
The failure by UHRC to implement the programmed activities under DGF greatly affected its operations as a key nationa.l human rights institution.
This to a certain extent contribuled lo - r sibilities, Increase in the human rights caseload at the investigations aid Tribunal levels, l,oss of trust and confidence in the ability of the UHRC to delive rights services to the genera-l public, Increased impunity by security agents, Increased humal rights violations in detention facilities specific torture, inhuman arrd degrading treatment, personal liberty, right to life, and right to health among others, Increased ignorarce of the citizen r Increased inability by the cilizertry to make their leaders accountabl Lack of respect of provisions of the Constitution, Increased cases of torture, inhuman and degrading trea citizens by state and non-state actors in their line of duty Increased lawlessness arld disrespect of the law, Riotous community alrd lawlessness before, during and t}j'e 2021, elections that also contributed to ar increase in police expenditure on crowd control equipment and personnel, Inability by the Commission to address emerging human rights issues.
Relegation of a national and constitutional duty, particularly civic s/NGO in marragement of humal rights affairs of fgducation.
to C ry about their rights and of 11 v1 vii viii tx x xl xii trlrfhe countrw- lllffi ( L Page 25 oI F The Committee observed that the failure by the Government to provide 1OO7o funding for the UHRC compromises its performance and turns it into a beggar-entity that has to engage development partners and other external funders which exposes it to foreign interests that may be harmful to the country's national fabric.
The Committee further observes that Government, on top of failing to fully fund 100% of the budget of the UHRC, it has also blocked critical donor funding to this poorly facilitated entity.

fr@ Comnittee reco,ft,men,ds thqt Gotenlment fund.s TOOo/" oJ tle bud.get o.f the Ugand.o.

Hunan Rights Commisslon.

The Commild.ee turther recommends that Gouemrnent cleqrs the Democrqtic Gove'7r,o,n,ce Fq,cilitg to res'ume operatl,ons q,n'd provide critical lunding tD the Commission.

?
?

-)F {N-"- Page 26 of 150 4.2 COMPLAINTS REGISTERED AND ADDRESSED BY KAMPALA CAPITAL CITY AUTHORITY (KCCA) Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) is a government entity, which administers the capital city on behalf of the Central Government.

The authority's mandate is to assist in the maintenance of law, order and security in the capital city through law enforcement assistants, revenue ofhcers aIId health inspection officers.
KCCA informed the Committee that it receives reports of violation of humar rights.

It stated, however, that since Jan:.

)ary 2o2O, there had been few incidents of human dghts violations involving KCCA, largely due to the two ountry-wide COVID-19 lockdowns instituted in 2020 ar.d,2O2l The Authority informed the Committee of the following cases: 4.2.7 Alleged.
Assault bg a one Kamara Geoffreg, KCCA Lqw enlorcernent assistant The Committee was informed that a street vendor krlown as Mukabya Gideon repofted an assault case against KCCA Monitoring and Investigations Unit.

Mukabya alleged that on 30 September 2021, KCCA enforcement officers impounded his merchaldise.

That, when he followed up his merchaldise at the new taxi park, he was assaulted and thrown chalnel, fracturing bone(s) in his harrd(s).
into Nakir,-ubo dr Police investigations established that the victim was assaulted by unknown persons.

The enforcement offlcers reported were not near the scene at the tim of e assault.

This was confirmed by his initia-l report at Old Kampala police tion in which he reported a one Kabugo Michael and other unknown ons.

The entry on "other unknown persons" was whitewashed and the name Kamara Geoffrey and other law enforcement ofhcers superimposed.
The Resident State Attorney advised that there was no evidence that the enforcement assistants had committed the said crime.

The f1le was accordilgly closed.

The Committee observed that effort was made to investigafe matter d address the Trrc Comrnittee commend.s KCCA, IIPF and ODPP Jor concluslaelg addressing the matter.

The Committee recommends that qll entities should adopt sim:ila,r uork methods to ad.d.ress allegations of human rig itiouslg and s olations.

w-- Page 27 oI 7 U 4.2.2 Cott|,,lai,[t No.


UHRC/7a/2O79 Nq,ssongq Kofia HAWA and.

KccA The Comrnittee was informed that KCCA received a letter from the UHRC on 29th March 2021, to respond to allegations l}j,at ot 22"d JaJf.uary 2019, Nassanga Kofia was arrested by KCCA law enforcement offrcers who undressed her and took her picture.
Upon investigations by the KCCA'S Criminal Investigations Unit, it was established that the complainant undressed herself to incite the public against KCCA enforcement ofhcers.

She was arrested, prosecuted and convicted on her own plea to the charge of obstruction.

The Commillee co',?

:rnends KCCA, WF qnd ODPP lor expedltlouslg and conclusivelg qddressing the mqlrter.

4.2.3 Legal Br.

]ins Trust (LBT) Limited vs. I<ccA @nd.

AG lfrlsc.

Applicqtio'r No.

256 of 2o2O, @rtsing from Misc.

Cause No.


98 of 2020 The Committee learned that Legal Brains Trust fi1ed a public interest case, following the death of a 56-year-o1d Cissy Namukasa, a vendor in Bugolobi Market.

Ms. Narnukasa drowned in a drainage charrnel in Nakawa Division on 2 May 2O2O.

Her trody was recovered more tha.n a month later.


The application prayed to Court to declare that Narnukasa's right to life was violated as a result of Government and KCCA's failure to make safe drainage channels for pedestrians in the ciry.

In his judgement, Justice Elubu mled that Government and KCCA infringed rty; and to a saJe on the right to life; to protection from deprivation of p ald cleal environment of Kampala City dwellers.
The Corn nittee ,.ecor7t nend.s t tdt: a) coaerfi'I:merat should @dequ@telg support NCCA qnd all Urban quthorities to prouide q, sale and clean saJegrard and.

protect the right to liJe.

envitonment in order b) Gooernment should qdequqtelg sqrport I<ccA ln tts elforB implement s,ectio,r.

7 roqd.s and.

mq.Jor d. d.ral/ts lft the citg.


KCCA Act to con,struct qnd mqinto,irt order to qaert flooding qnd coaer open c) KCCA should report on qction taken (both plqnned qrye judgement ab ,rN( neftt within a period o.f slx montll"s nse to ln Tespo qnd irnplemented)W- t-t- Page 28 50 W I c 4.2.4 KCCA stqf!

inJired.

durir.g operatlons Rt Hon.

Speaker, KCCA informed the Commlttee that their staff are routinely violently assaulted by the general public.
During the reporting pedod, at least two KCCA employees were assaulted by the public during the execution of their duties.

(i) Bashir Bugembe one of the scouts from Seven Hills Tearn attached to Smart City operations was beaten by urrgry vendors.

He sustained injudes to the head arld was hospitalized.

(ii) In November 2O2O, Mr Robert Kalumba and his colleagues were assaulted by members of the public in St- Balikuddembe (Owino) Market.
Mr Kalumba sustained injuries The Committee notes with concern lawlessness and impunity.

the growing culture of The commil*ee recomnends that goaenment should take deliberate stgps to educate the populqtlon on thet rlghts o,nd dutles as citizens.

4.2.5 KCCA opetqtlons in the gender-based uTolence q,rena The Committee was informed that one of the major areas of focus in K sensitisation engagements is the prevention of Gender Based Violence (GBV).
KCCA emphasises prevention of, GBV by encouraging people to utilise the existing channels of communication to amicably resolve differences that may arise.

Where GBV cases occur, victims are encouraged to report to Police.
, and hea.lth centres and t the Some victims report to LCs, Probation Oificers GBV shelter in Bwaise managed by Action Aid The Comrnittee was further inforrned that the Ministry of Gender, Labour and '- Social Development established a National Gender Based Violence Data Base GBVDB) that captures all GBV cases Below are the GBV physical torture cases reported in Karnp afa [rorn 2O2O to date, highlighting the age group and number of cases llo.
o, cases Age Group Below 18 years 18 - 30 years 118 Above 30 vears 69 Total 220 Of the 22O cases recorded, 59 victims were female ale while the maiority (161) were ',.1 L ,Y Page 29 of 15 D-- #*5 l\ GBV cases reported to various areas Reporting Centre GBV shelter Health centre LC1 Police Probation office Total .lvo.

o, c@ses 66 111 1 15 7 2o0 Rt Hon.


Speaker, KCCA reported that in order to strengthen their intemal chanisms for addressing child exploitation, Council passed the Kampala Child Protection Ordinalce 2021.

"fhe ordinance is due for gazetting.

Furthermore, another ordinarce, Kampala Capital City Prohibition arrd Prevention of Gender Based Violence Ordinance is currently undergoing the approval process.

Rt Hon.
Rt Hon.

Speaker, the following are the interventions made by KCCA towards promotion and protection of human rights in Kampala City.

I ii iii iv A toll-free line to report any misconduct by KCCA employees.

Sensitisation programs run on radios, televisions and loud speakers among the communities; Training law enforcement officers in observance ofhuman rights.
These trainings are conducted by KCCA, UPF arld UHRC KCCA's Sarctions and Rewards Committee that conducts disciplinaqr proceedings for erralt officers; A dedicated investigations unit headed by a Superintendent of Police responsible for investigating stalf misconduct of a criminal nature including torture and assault; Provision of professional coulselling by KCCA Probation Ollicers and Community Development Officers to victirns to resolve grievances amicably; Trained child protection comrnittee members arld para social workers pport the identification and referral of child abuse chia The Commiftce comrnends I<CCA lor deaeloplng the Ka ProtectTon Ord.inance 2027 and.
the Kampq.la.

Capita.l Citg Prohibitton qnd Prevention ol Gend.er Based Vlolence Ord.lno,nce.

4).

/.1.

It furthet commends the @uthoritg tor pulting ln place elabot'qte meq.s'lres Ior the promotion @nd protectlon ol hu',lon rights tDithin tts jurisdiction, The Committee recotntnend.s that the Attorneg Generql's cham.ber expedites the approral of the tuo ordinonces qnd that NCCA lmmed.latelg eflects their implement(ltlon, Other goaernment entities should be encourqged.
to o.d,opt, rDith the raecessqry modifications, t E ,neasures put in place W KCCA lor the promotlofl dnd.

protection of human rights qs q best prqctice.

.

:-, L I (<f.n Page 31 of 150 4.3 COMPLAINTS REGISTER.ED AND ADDRESSED BY UGANDA WILDLIFE AUTHORITY (IIWA) Section 4 of the Uganda Wildlife Act (Cap 2OO of 2O0O) established UWA.

This was saved by Section 5 of the Uganda Wildlife Act No.17 of 2019.
UWA'S mission is to.conserve, economically develop a.rld sustainably manage the wildlife protected areas of Ugalda in partnership with neighbouring communities and other stakeholders.

Rt Hon.

Speaker, during its interaction with UWA, the Committee was briefed that UWA cEm arrest, search any suspects and investigate wildlife crime related cases.

UWA also prosecutes suspects by virtue of the provisions of Section 18 of the the regulations made thereunder.

Uganda Wildlife Act, No.

17 of 2019.


4.3.7 Lo,nd.

di.sputes or to"ceful enlctlons A reported to the Committee that a large num of conflicts arise from d disputes.

The land disputes are mainly caused by encroachment on protected aieas and a high demand of land for individual use by the communities around such protected areas.

Furthermore, some communities do not recognise the boundaries in the gazettement instnrments.

Rt Hon.
Rt Hon.

Speaker, whereas encroachment on protected areas was rarnpant during the era of Game Department and Forest Department (for forest reserves upgraded to National Parks), this, to a greater extent, has been contained by UWA, working with other stakeholders.

The Committee was informed that due to the increasing humal population in Uganda, the demand for lard for settlement and cultivation is also increasing.
Wildlife protected areas, wetlands and forest reserves are soft targets for communities and encroachers resulting in confrontation between the Govemment arrd the communities that forceful ly enter gazetted land There are a number of court cases where communities have been mobilised, hled suits arld instigated to enter protected areas.

They sought interim or rs arld injunctions to protect them.

These cases are common in Mt National Park, East Madi Wildlife Reserve and Kibale National Park.
UWA reported that it has established ranger outposts at strategic sites the wildlife protected areas.

The rangers are trained on matters related to enforcement arrd humal rights.

They are expected to execute their work thin the confines of the law.

UWA further reported that its rangers resisted u lokwangat inside Bokora encroachment by gadzed ro I /.

age 32 0 6i.

wildlife Reserve (Kotido District) in February 2021.

This was at the peak of election campaigns in 2020.
UWA reported that it strives to settle most of the larld disputes amicably through consensual boundary marking processes.

In some instances, however, the boundary marking processes have generated conflict because of corruption.

The Committee was informed that in the cases of Mt.
Elgon National Park, Karuma WildLife Reserve, Katonga Wildlife Reserve, Kibale National Park, Tooro Semliki Wildlife Reserve, arld some parts of Ajai Wildlife Reserve, land was recovered from encroachers and compensation was paid to claimants by the Government.

Rt Hon.

conflicts Speaker, the following protected areas con nence a) PiaI Upe Wildlife Reserve, b) Bokora Wildlife Reserve, c) Matheniko Wildlife Reserve, d) East Madi Wildlife Reserve, e) Mt.
Elgon National Park, fl Queen Elizabeth National Park g) Kibale Nationa-l Park.

d Most of these land conflicts are before the courts of law but, there have been several efforts made by the Government to resolve them.

UWA expressed its disappointment by the malner in which the courts of law have handled maly ofthe larld cases.

Some cases have been in courts of law for over 20 years.
There are cases {iled at the Mbale High Courl by the communities of Namisindwa, Bumbo, Warale, Bumasobo, Buluganya, Zesui ald Bukwo, among others, that remain unresolved.

The Col,,,,,trittee comrnends UWA for the executloft of iE core m@ndate and.

lor thelr efiorts to.rgettng peq.cefu, resolutlon ol conf'llct with stqkeholder communitie s. The ,:,y"^ it*ee d.s that n CI Page 33 of 1 o g^J W-'t' (i) the courts shou6 expedite resolution qnd.

disposo.l ol the pen,diag c4ses.


fil fhe bou'{'d.ary opening process in,itloted bg gouentmant should be exped.ited and.

concluded.

(iii) Electric fences should be etected around the wildliJe resentes and ct to protect g'nlm@l and.

human parks to preaent 'I,qtion(rl liJe, ltrnb and.

propertg.

4.3.2 Disputes ouer co,,tlren,sqtio/a The Committee received complaints of inadequate compensation for laIld recovered and property destroyed by wildlife.

It tasked UWA to respond to these complaints.


UWA informed the Committee that they have no documented disputes all,.where in Ugalda resulting from inadequate compensation of communities.
UWA reported that they have in the recent past effected acceptable compensations to communities who held land titles over land comprising of Katonga Wildlife Reserve (Kisoro arrd Byabasita blocks), Karuma Wildlile Reserve (Bonan family) and Ajai Wildlife Resewe (John Juruga rmed that the Chief Government Valuer is The Committee was further responsible for the determination of values for all the comperrsations whenever Government avails funds for the same arld the local governments in the area are always involved in the process.
The compensation process for some of the Katonga Wildlife Reserve land title holders was haldled through Kyegegwa and Kamwenge local governments.

A grace period of6 months was granted to the former owners of land to relocate after being paid.

The matter relating to the Bonaribo family in Karuma Wildlife Reserye was settled by consent of both parties and the family given a grace period of four months to settle outside the reserve.
In the Ajai Wildlife Reserve, the family of John Juruga was given a similar grace pedod to resettle outside the reserve.

The Bwindi Mbwa tract which was compensated amicably before 1991 had community members that were using the forest as gardens with houses outside the affected area.

These people were paid and asked to hawest whatever crops that were in the area before they were fina-lly restricted from accessing the lald for further cultivation.
Kibale National Park Mpolq/a encroachment ald the Mgahinga Forest Reserve encroachments were also andled similarly M J ei.

Page 34 150 de-.----.


s J The Committee was informed that the communities living around the National Parks in Muhororo Town Council, Mpefu Subcounty in Kagadi District; the slopes of Mount Elgon, Kyebando Subcounty in Kibaale District, Elegu in Amuru District, arrd, ralches around Late Mburo National Park in Kiruhura district and other areas suffer from problem animals that pose threats to humal life or property outside protected areas.

The Commllrtee noted.


IIWA's etfort tn qmicqblg resohring l@nd dlsputes qnd contr ensating title hold.ers in games reserues and.

natio't(ll parks.

The Commlaee recommend.s thet UWA should control problem qnimqls qnd buird the capa.citg o.f Local Gouernments ln area's outsid.e resevtEs, parks q.nd protected.

in qccordance uith Section 6(i) o.f the Ugaftd.o.

wildlile Act, 2O79.

3.3Is.sues roised.


bg Amnestg Intenational in respect of the Benet commuaitg around lwouat Elgon Nqtion,(Il Patk its 2020 Report, Amnesty ts violation temational raised specihc issues of human eviction of Benet from Mt Elgon Nationa.l Park The removal of Benet 20O8, aJter a Belgiar tourist, Annick Van De Venter, on a hike in the park was brutally killed by criminals who hid among the Ndorobo (Benet sub group).
e interior of Mt Elgon National Park was done After a series of consultations ar1d in a bid to protect the fragile forest ecosystem, the Government took a decision to remove all Benets from the intedor of the forest and provided them 318 hectares at the periphery of the park at Amanang, in Bukwo District, and 2O5 hactares at Kisitu in Kween District, for temporary settlement of Benet groups that did not benefit from the 1983 land allocation.
The report alleBed that UWA officials killed the Benet people and raped women but it did not provide speciflc cases.

The Committee treats allegations of deprivation of the right to life as serious issues.

Every such allegation should be made with supporting cogent evidence arld / or leads to aid exhaustive investigation.

The Committee's position is the same with regaid to allegations ofrape or defilement.

It considers rape to be a gross violation of human rights.
The lack of detail arld credible leads relating to the allegations in the Amnesty International report and the lack of a police record of such crimes made it difficult for the Committee t mearingfully interrogate the allegations L Page 3 5 50 I g',L 4,3.4 Torture chantbers in natlono"l po,rks The committee received reports alleging that UWA operates and maintains torture chambers within national parks.
In its repo.t, UWA denied the existence of torture chambers in national parks or any location associated with it.

They contend that once arrested, suspects are handed over to UPF for detention.

UWA reported that they have always cooperated with UHRC when issues of humal rights violations are raised against its ofhcers.

UWA stalf involved in humar rights violations are handled in accordance with the law.
In October 202O, four UWA staif based in East Madi Wildlife Reserve were arrested and charged before the 4d Division Army Court Martial aJter they were involved in a fatal shooting incident while on patrol inside the reselve.

Two stall were exonerated by the Court Martial a,rrd two stalf convicted; one was sentenced to 20 years in prison.

4.3.5 Interueations undertq,ken bg tIfllA to mltlgate hu'ma,n righb violations in the gozel:ted, areas A, Collq.borqtioe fles.rttrce mqnqgement Rt Hon.
Speaker, the Committee was informed that since 1996, UV/A has used collaborative resource mElnagement as one of the strategies to cement the relationship between UWA and the neighbouring communities- To enhalce wildlife benefits to communities, UWA has e{ecuted a number of Memoranda of Understanding with the communities.
These include (i) Fifteen collaborative resource access agreements in Ki National Park, (ii) Five collaborative resource access agreements in Tooro S ki Wildlife Reserve, (iii)Ten collaborative resource access agreements in Katonga Wildlife Reserve, I W (iv)Eighty-six collaborative resource access agreements in Mt.

Elgon National Park (v d a number in Bwindi, Rwenzori, and Queen Elizabeth National ks for harv edicinal plants, thatch, bee keeping esting o {SF=- s, tyr €,-?
Page 36 of I UWA has also undertaken forest restoration activities in pa-rtnership with communities under the "Taungra" system (e.g., Mount Elgon, Kibale and Rwenzori Mountains National Parks).

The communities are allowed to plalt seasonal crops in areas where trees are planted until the trees form canopies.

The Committee was further informed that UWA continues to sensitise the communities arrd leaders to respect the protected ajeas.
They are encouraged to engage with UWA and enter into a.llowable resource access arrangements with UWA B.

Strengthening mecho.nlsl'ls to f.ght corruption UWA operates a zero tolerance to corruption policy and has been exemplary in the management of Ugalda's wildlife resources.

To effectively deal with COITUption aIld other malpractices, intelligence aJId investigation units have en established within the organisation to provide accurate information for management decision making.
UWA developed a Human Resource Manual to provide disciplinary procedure for stall who break the code oI conduct and / or commit human rights violations.

The training of rangers includes provision of specific information on humal rights.

Culpabilif in human rights violations or any other offences by stafl is punishable either through the UWA disciplinary proce of law.
qL V ks ard Wildlife UWA informed the Committee that its management is committed to ensuring that the people of Ugalda benefrt from the natural resources and services offered in the Na continue to e with the implement alld promote me .

(' neighbouring communities.

/\, u rves that fhev \Irill aceful co-existenc the l'trterue,atlons undertqken to The Commil*ee commend.s IJWA prevent human rights ulola.tlo,[s ln gazetted o,reqs and for punishing offend.ing officials.
The Commil*ee reco',,,:t,I,e'rds th@t UVIA @dopts and imlrlemcnE aft awropriqtelg modifted aerslon ol I<CCA'9 i,rterue/rtio',,s for the - promotion and.

ptotection of humqn rights ln their jurisdiction.

4+ U 4) F4 Page 37 of ,r-'' W-.-' 4.4 HUMAN RIGH GES IN THE RWENZORI SUBREGION: THE KASESE MASSACRES OF NOVEMBER 2016 The House directed the Committee to investigate the human rights challenges related to the prolonged detention of the royal guards to the King of the Rwenzumru.
The inquiry included issues related to the Obusinga Bwa Rwenzururu, examining the current status of the complaints registered with UHRC, the delaycd trial of the King (Obusinga Bwa Rwenzururu) the Omusinga Charles Wesley Mumbere Iremangoma and the royal grrards, their prolonged detention, allegations of torture, among others.

A team of Members of Parliament from Kasese made submissions to the Committee.
They preceded their submissions with a call for the unconditional discharge of the King of the RwenzLrruru and the royal guards.

The tearn informed the committee that the joint state security operation of UPDF a-nd UPF raided and attacked the offices of Obusinga Bwa Rwenzururu (OBR) Cultural Institution in Kasese Town on the 26th November arld later the palace on 27th November 2016.
The tea.In reported that over 20O people lost their lives and 225 were arrested aIrd eventually incarcerated at Kirinya and Luzira sons Members from Kasese in their submission reported that the persons who were a-rrested, especially the royal guajds, had spent flve years in jail without tria1.

They contended that the King and the Prime Minister along with four minors had been granted bail in early 2017.
The Committee was informed that most recently an additionat one hundred ard thirty two others had been released on bail.

The members asserted that eighty persons remain incarcerated The Members of Parliament from Kasese were concerned that the h condition of some of the royal guards that remain in detention had deteriorated signihcaltly with some being reported as critically iLI.
They further reported that nine of these royal guards had died in detention artd their relatives had been invited by the Prisons Authorities to pick their bodies arrd accord them decent but quiet'buria]s. The Committee was informed that, in the aJtermath of the attack, the loth Parliament tasked the Sectoral Committee on Defense and Intemal Affairs, at the time, led by Hon.

Judith Nabakooba to carry out an independent investigation.

The ort of the investigation has never been led L ,'q b €r.
Page 38 of w=-.

l The members allege that the incarceration of the King aid the royal guards was intended to dehumanize, politically terrorise and that it constituted an enhanced Ugandanised apartheid.

The Committee interrogated UHRC and the Uganda Prisons Service on the issues raised by the Members of Parliament from Kasese District.

The UHRC informed the Committee that it had concluded investigations into 1 complaints, which arose from the 2016 post-election conflict in the Rwenzori Subregion.
They reported that the complaints mainly Kasese and BundibuS/o are currently before the Commission's Tribunal- The complaints comprise of2O cases of alleged torture, and 25 cases ofdeprivaton of percona] liberty.

Thirty one (31) of the complaints were against UPF while three (3) were against the UPDF.

The Uganda Prisons Service confirmed to the Committee that nine members of the royal guard died while in custody.
Their remains were handed over to Lheir farnilies [or intermen L. The Committee tasked the Ugalda Prisons Service to assign a Justice of The Peace to a team from UHRC and the legal representative of the royal guards to extract alfidavits or statutory declajations lrom the royal guards w remain incarcerated.

e Ugarda Prisons Service and UHRC reported to the Committee that the royal guards refused to provide aly evidence in respect of this matter.
The Committee was informed that despite encouragement from their legal ts for th representatives, the royal guards declined to Committee's use- The team reported tlat the royal guar susplclous of the entire justice system and government machinery- The Commiftee noted uith grqte co,tcern the long st!

spects q)end on remand wlthout triqL The Commilrtee notes thqt the inordinqtelg long remand period,s constltute a breo,ch of the right to falr trial guqranteed bg the Constitutiofl.
The Committee recommends thqt: rd sta (i) ,: s,o- tlle ODPP o.nd.

the .Iudlclary should str )e to e\sute expeditious trlal ol suspects thqt qre not grqnted bqll.

Trw ODPP should submit to P@rriament an updated.

lis, of all petsons held.

on remand.

for a period exceeding ofte gear ulth reo.sons for the d.elqg to try their This ltst should be submitaed.

annuallu.

L 39 of 15 t tgp--- (iii) (i4 (a) (vi) Goaernment shorald compensate qll persons who arre @cquitfied alter spending fle,ag gears on remqnd,.
The UHRC Tribunql should dispose of all m@l*ers thqt are nou belore it o.nd.

report to the House within sk (6) nonlhs.

the GouerTament should engqge in diqlogue ulth the people o:f Kasese in order to Jind a lq,sting solutlon to the long- sta'[dlng conflict.

Coaernment shouu also create mechqnisms to support the recoaery process forlouing the raid.

o!

Noaember 2076 on the Obusltr,go.

Buq Ruenzururu.


\ AW--=- I / 4 {lj Page f1 € 4.5 CrVrL SOCTETY ORGANTSATTON (CSO) PERSPECTTVE The Committee interacted with Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and Non- Government Orgarisations (NGOs) operating in the human rights arena to get their perspective on the state of human rights and alleged human rights violations from Januarlr 2020 to-date.
4.5.7 fhe Foundation lor lluma,n Rights Inltiatiae (FHRI) The Foundation for Human Rights Initiative (FHRI) submitted that International humal rights law imposes a duty on states to respect aid uphold humar rights (ICCPR, 1966, Article 2 (1).

The obligation to promote and protect human rights principles includes the duty to ensure respect for the dignity of the individual, the freedom arld right to mate informed choices, and the obligation to deepen inclusivity and public participation (SDG 16).
In order to guarantee the enjoyment of these rights, states have the duty to ensure that law and order, peace and stability prevails in a human rights friendly environment.
ey reported that Uganda experienced a democratic backlash tn 2O2O al],d 2021 due to marked deterioration in the country s human rights environment The socio-political context FHRI assessed the socio-political arrd human rights 2O2O-2O22 using the following cape in Uganda in 1 ii iii iv vi The continued threat of COVID-1g pandemic, 'f]..e 2021 Genera.l Elections Restrictions on civic ald political space Restricted access to education and heal Restricted access to justice Poverty ard inequality i.
TIE coatlnued.

threat of COVID-79 pq.nd.emic In a bid to contain the COVID- 1 9 pardemic.

the Mjqisrer of Health.

exercising the powers conferred upon her by Sections lI .aid 27 of the Public Health Act, Cap 281 issued The Public Health (Control oI COVID-19) Rules, 2020, which gave rise to the adoption of Stardard Operating Procedures (SOPs).

Rt Hon.

Speaker, the President issued several directives to operationalise government's effort to curb the spread of COVID-1g.
Governrnent granted broad powers of enforcemen rity personnel PS and curfew restrictions L li', B'n 41 of 15 FHRI avers that in the absence of an instrument to declare a public health emergency as required under Article 4 of the ICCPR, Ugarda adopted a utilitariar approach that places national security and huma-n rights as opposites.
A climate of "de jure impunitg" was created resulting in use of sive lorce against suspected offenders, arbitrary deprivation of life a:rd extortion of unsuspecting members of the public by errant ofhcers.

Without a clear declaration of a public health emergency, humar security ttrat requires more investment in guaranteeing dignity of the individua-l was pitted against physical security that is common with intransigent states.
Local Defence Unit (LDUS) personnel were reported to have used excessive force, including beatirrgs and extortion of money from Boda boda riders, food vendors afid taxi drivers in Kampala, Wakiso, Entebbe and Jinja purportedly Presidential Guidelines for the prevention ofCOVID-19 in to enforce d 2021.

Right to llfe, libertg and.

securitg o.f person: Rt Hon.


Speaker, FHRI reported that the right to life, liberty and security of person was under threat due to arbitrary arrests and unlawful detention of suspects at police stations beyond the 48-hour rule.
They stated that the right to legal representation was severely restricted due to travel restrictions imposed on lawyers as COVID-Ig Prevention Directives did not include la as arr essential service Thef\contended that the COVID 19 Directives arld regulations coupled with bitrary arrests exacerbated the already overwhelmed prison population worsening prison congestion and overcrowding.
Prison statistics at the end of 2O2O and 2021 indicate prison population as follows: Year 2020 2021 PrisoE Population o/o of Convicts 7o of Remands 63,851 66,2tO 44.9 47 _1 :l) 54.8 52.4 ii.

The 2027 General FHRI stated that the 2021 General Elections were held amidst a climate of suspicion, fear arld tension arnong the general population.

They opined that the elections were marred by wide spread abuses.
They accused securiry forces of arbitrarily arresting and beating opposition supporters, journalists, I protesters, and disrupting opposition rallies Lu )t L 42 of 15O e.} lM--'- t I I t I I t t I I I I T T I I I I I I I FHRI submitted that there was rampant denia-l of freedom of expression, association ald assembly including media freedom prior to the general elections held on Januarl/ 14 2021.
They reported that the restrictions on freedom of expression and assembly were stepped up as security forces, using COVID-19 restrictions, broke up political rallies of opposition politicians, arrested Government critics and members of opposition parties arrd placed restdctions on media.

Rt Hon.
Rt Hon.

Speaker, FHRI documented the incidences of violation of humai rights of opposition politiciars below: On January 6 2O2O, polrce blocked public meetings by presidential candidate, Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu on grounds that he had not met the requirements of the Public Order arld Management Act (POMA), 2013.

On January 7th, poLice blocked People Power Pressure Group from accessing a venue where they were supposed to hold a consultative meeting with the public.
On January 8 2020, the sarne group was blocked from holding alother event in Lira.

Robert Kyagulanyi was detained but released shortly.

Police arrested journalists covering these events in Gayaza and Lira but were released shortly thereafter.

Relatedly, on Februarjr 5 2020, ParLiamentarJr Committee on Human Rights released hndings indicating that authorities held detainees in safe houses and subjected them to torture arld abuse with impunity.
ODMarcb 23 2O2O soldiers beat locals in Mityana District claiming that th not adhered to the order bars On March 24 2O2O Agnes Linda, the DPC, Arnur beat people who congregate in public spaces.

ct threatened to On Mach 26 2O2O, police shot and injured two construction workers riding on a motorcycle in Mukono.

On the same day, LDUs beat several people including vendors and motorcycle riders in downtowar Kampala.
On March 2a2O2O srx police officers shot at a group of people in Bududa, injuring one claiming to enforce a ban on public meetings.

On Ma-rch 302020 stick wielding LDUS attacked Ssembajjwe, a ournalist and a motor cyclist in Matindye claiming to enforce COVID- 19 curfew and a ban on public transport.

At least six journalists are n March 19th and April 22.d reported to have been assaulted 2020.

*'.?

\ 43 of 15 11 111. vii lx t<r"+ x x1 xtl1 x1v xv r xv!
t\ J b On March 30 2O2O, the Army Chief of Defence Forces publicly apologised to three victims of LDU attacks and promised to hold those responsible- Prior to the 2021 General Elections, restrictions on freedom of expression and assembly were stepped up as security forces broke up opposition rallies, arested Government critics and opposition members alld placed restrictions on media.

On April 1,9 2O2O, police arrested and tortured Francis Zaa-ke for distributing food assistance to locals in Mityana.
On June 9 2020, the military tribunal withdrew charges against UPDF soldiers who had been accused of brutalising students protesting fee increase at Makerere University in October 20 19; and in July, 2O2O the UPDF withdrew LDUs from field operations and subjected them to human rights training.
On July 24 202O police arrested 4 comedia-ns popularly knowrr as "Bizor,to", released four days later, for posting online a satirical video calling on Ugaldans to pray for top government offrcials, described by Minister of Communications ald Technologl as offensive.
On September 7 2020, the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) issued a public notice requiring providers of online data alld communication including bloggers and online TV, to seek authorisation from the body by October 5 2O2O; and pay a fee ofUGX 10O,0O0.

On November 18th arld 19Lh 2020 following the arrest of Kyagulalyi in Luuka, protests broke out in Kampala and surrounding areas.

Security forces hred teargas and live bullets at protesters and the public leading to death of over 54 people.
A spate of afrests a-1:Id abductions that followed the November 18 2O2O killings, post- election violence, and possession of military stores reportedly resulted in military detention artd enforced disappearances of 177 people.

This is according to a list presented by Intemal Affairs Minister Jeje Odong to Parliarnent March 42021).

For example, on January I 2021, Police charged 49 NUP su with alleged possession of govemment stores.
On Jar:uary 9 2021 security personnel surrounded Robert Kyagulanl s home arrd beat Francis Zaake whert he attempted to visit him.

A few days before the elections on January 14.J.

2021, government shut down the interneL for hve days, and restricted access to social media sites including T$itter arld YouTube for a month.

Face book access was legedly in retaliation of Facebook having taken Z ?
Page 44 of 1 v k4) ocked i v {i. I I I I I I xvllI x1]( y* down a network of accounts and pages linked to governmen t. The authorities have since restored partial access to social media sites, excluding Face book.

In the lead up to the January 14, poll, Presidential candidates, Patrick Amuriat ofFDC arld Robert Kyagulalyi were among those arrested.
On January \a 2021, security lorces blocked access to Kyagulanyi's party ofhces allegedly to counter any plans to carry out "mass riots and violent demonstrations" In February 2021, military police beat journalists covering Presidential Candidate Robert Kyagulanyi, as he delivered a petition seeking intervention over repeated abuse, abduction and illegal detention ofhis supporters to the UN Office for Human Rights in Kampala.
ln May 2021, police detained a 24-yeatold law student, Michael Muhima for a tweet parodying the police spokesperson and charged with offensive communication.

In June 2021 government replace social media tax wllh a l2yo tax on the purchase of internet data ili.

Restrictions on citic @^d polltical space Rt Hon.

Speaker, FHRI reported that the authorities restricted the work of activists and civil society $oups.
They alleged that the Electoral Commission declined to accredit many local and internationa-l observers including CCEDU and the National Coalition of Human Rights Defenders.
The EU alld US Mission declined to observe ll.e 2021 Elections citing pre-electoral violence, excessive use oI force by law enforcement agencies which adversely affected the credibility of the electoral process FHRI reported that on 14 September 2O2O, the Uganda Government stated that it had suspended the operations of 208 refugee organisations including 85 international groups over non-compliance with Ugandan refugee regulations.
Only 69 aid agencies are now authorised to assist Ugalda's 1.4 million refugees.

Rt Hon.

Speaker, FHRI assert that according to the Minister for Relief, Disaster Preparedness and Refugees, many of these organisations that were suspended lacked valid permits or possessed expired permits to operate or were l-Lrnning unauthorized projects.
In fact, on January 14 2021, police arrested over 20 people working with Citizen watch IT and the women s Democracy Network for allegedly operating a parallel tallying centre at Hotel Africana, and On August 20 2021, NGO Bureau suspended the activities of 54 NGOS allegedly for operating without permit or_proper registration ,f 45 of 150 #F ,eJ,.

0.'
0.'

V) They further reported that due to forced evictions carried out by security forces in Apaa, Northern Ugaflda, thousands of eligible voters were unable to participate in the 2021 Elections.

They had been excluded from the updated voter register.

Restricted q,ccess to educqtioE q.nd.

health sefvices Rt Hon.

Speaker, FHRI reported that on March 18 2020, President Museveni ordered the closure of all schools as a COVID 19 control measure.

This alfected more than 15 million school goilg children.
They noted that this measllre was discriminatory because of partial / staggered reopening arld many international schools remained open.

FHRI reported that over the last 20 years since the Abuja Declaration in 2000, there has been nominal increment in the budget allocation to the health sector.

For example, the health sector budget has decreased from 8.970 in 2016 / 77 to 6.2yo \n tL'e 2027 12022 frnancial year.

o.

Restricted.
o.

Restricted.

q,ccess to justice FHRI stated that pr-isons remain overcrowded largely due to indiscriminate arrests, inadequate legal aid services, under- funded judiciary and limited finarcing of the Ugalda Human Rights Commission.

Fair trial ald due process rights are adversely affe practice of trying civilians in military courts, all enforced disappearances the continued owing phenomena of ui.
Pouertg and unemplogment FHRI reported t}rat in 2O2O, 1.8 million Ugandans fell back into p During that year, the COVID-1g pandemic had driven four percent of gandans back into poverty, posing the toughest challenge ever for the country's budgeting process.

FHRI reported on the following statistics attributed to (extracted from) a World Bank report on 2021.

J qr 1- That Uganda's the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) dropped by 1.1%, aJter being hit by the COVID-19 pandemic.
That the GDP was estimated to have recovered by 3.3o/.

by 2027 That due to the loss of jobs and sources of income through business, pulation was forced to rely on agriculture a-nd other most of t natural s the of income.

This enabled them to work h M I crls1s (- I Page 4 1 S/ A_, g.r .

That this shift and reliance on agriculture saved the economy from collapse into a dire poverty level.

.
.

That on a positive note, the economic growth outlook for Ugarda is 4.6% in 2022, aatd acceleration to 6.4 percent in the 2023 hscal year, as domestic demand conditions improve and global recovery continues.

This is in part due to the roll out of COVID-19 vaccines despite the unequal distribution ofthe same in the global south FHRI stated that the levels of unemployment in Uganda have also subsequently increased as a result of the COVID-19 effects on the economy.
In its 17 Uganda Economic Update (UEU) - 'From Crisis to Green Resilient Grov".th', the World BaIk notes that the COVID-1g shock caused a sharp contraction of the economy in Ugalda to its slowest pace in three decades.

Household incomes fell when firms closed alrd jobs were lost, particularly in the urban informal sector.

FHRI reported that child labour saw a signiircant increase in 2O2O arLd 2O2l 1n order to earn and support their families' standard of living.
Children were ed to long working hours of exploitation for little pay, in order for them put food on the table.

Children aged between 9 ald 16- year-olds were rs a day with little pay.

(Human ported to be working for more than 16 h Child Labor" 26 Mav o Rights Watch "Ugar-rda: Covid 19 Pand 2O21) Progress ard propoaed way forward Rt.

Hon.

Speaker, FHRI identifled a num r of poS I period under review ve developments in the a.
The enactment of the Administration of the Judiciary Acl,2O2O that has paved way for the frnancial independence of the judiciary.

b.

Funding to the Judiciary has since been increased to Ushs 376 billion to cater for recruitment ofjudicial officers, construction of more courts including the Supreme Court and Court of Appeal.

c. Decentralisation of courts is projected to result in establishment of chief magistrate courts at every district, regional court of appeal in Mbarara, Gulu, Soroti arld Lira.
With more courts aId judicial ofhcers, we should expect expeditious trial.

It is reported that the judiciary has embarked on daily criminal trials.

d. The Constitutional Court has declared Section 8 of the tlublic Order the threat o.f COVID- Management Act, 2013 as unconstitu On ( Ft."l. vln P 1 19 has subsided, there is every reason to reassert the rights to freedom of expression, association and assembly.
e. The Constitutiona.l Court in 2020 held that the right to health is a constitutional right ard urged government to take reasonable steps a],ld measures to ensure its realization by the citizens.

f. Goveilment has developed the National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights.

If implemented, the National Human Rights Action Plan would provide a legal framework within which alignment of the National Development Plan can be based.
On 27 Jamuary 2022, UgaI,da underwent the 3.d Universal Periodic Review before the UN UPR Working Group.

UN member states made several recommendations towards improving Ugar1da's humal rights record.

If the recommendations are implemented, significant progress would be made in addressing the current human rights and democracy dehcit.

Comnlttee commend.s the Fou,1'd.qtioa for Hunan Rtghts Inittative Ior a uell-researched and.
comprerEnsiae present@tion on the st@te ot hunan rlghts 7n Ugaftda; and for their en,thuslo.sm an,d eflort touqrds lhe promotion and protection of humo.n rlghts ln Ugq.nda.

The Committee recommend.s thqt Goaerflment should.

: i. RatW the Optio,1a.l Protocol to the ConoentTon Ag@i'tst Torture to gu@rantee lreedom of expression, (Issocio,tiort q.nd assemblg includiag the fl.edio.

ii.

Rattlg the Internatlonal Conaention Jor the Protection ol Arl ns irom enlorced dlsappearqnce.

iii.
iii.

Rattlg the Second oplion.l I Protocol to the ICCPR to qbolish the deqth penqltg.

itt.

Issue a standing inultation to the speclal Procedure.

Hold.ers to t isit Uganda and appraise her huoan rights situation.

Conduct irtapqrti(Il and efJectite inltestigations in,to use ot excessive use ofJorce, extrajudicial killlngs and.

torture o.nd.

bring the perpet"ators ta q lair trial.

Finalise and lmplernent tlle I'Iqtion.ql Actlon Plon on Euslness and Humar.

Rights.

Ratifg the A./'ricon Cho.rter 2007.


Goventq '9, Elections and on De 1 t 48 of 5 €'j tb a, vt $r I I viii.

Gu@r(rrtrtee the right to Jrcedom ol expression during elections for onliae qctiuists ia,clrzding un,blocki,g Facebook.

Realsit the tqx or.

intemet access.

Reaisit current Guidellnes on acctedlt@tion.

for election obs Enqct thc Humqn Rights Delenders Bill.

Inq)rement the Hunqn Rights Enlorcement Act, 2019. progressivelg increase Junding to the health sector AbuJa Declaration thtesLold.
of 75ok.

Err.q.ct the Natio,lol Legql Aid Policg into lau.

ix.

x. xi.

xlt.

xiii, xtu.

to meet the 4.5.2 The African Centre for Treatment aad Rehabilltation of victims (ACTV) The Comrnittee interlaced with African Centre for Treatment and Rehabilitation of Torture Victims (ACTV) in order to ascertain the support available for victims of torture.

ACTV was established in 1993 as the pioneer provider of services to survivors arld victims of torture ial Uganda.
It is accredited by the Ministry of Health to operate a medical referral centre that provides physical aIId psychological care to support the process of rehabilitation of survivors and victims of torture.

The Committee was informed that ACTV is the Chair of the Coalition Against Torture in Ugarlda.

The Coalition was instrumenta-l in the passing of the tion and Prohibition of Torture Act.

The Prevention and Prohibition of ,/, Torture Act was introduced in parliament as a private members bill in 2012.
The concerted efforts of the coalition also resulted in the enactment of the ' ofa Prevention and Prohibition of Torture Regulations of 2017 by the Ministry Justice and Constitutional Affairs.

ACTV is also accredited to the Intemational Rehabilitation Council for Torture I Vi.ti*", a grouping of 160 torture treatment centres in 70 countries around the world.
It is mandated to train the police, the military, prison staff, lega1 arld medical officials in issues of humar rights ard on the Istanbul Protocol guidelines to effectively document torture.

l. Izgisl@tiae lraneuork qgalast q,cts ol tort|.re qnd ill t'eatment in ugand@ Rt Hon.

Speaker, ACTV canvased the legal framework available in Uganda to deal with torture.

It Inaintained that Uganda has al elaborate and com prehensive legal \\ Page 49 of 150 <.
@- ( International law; r. 1984 Converttion against Torture and other forms of cruel, Inhumal Degrading Treatment or Punishment (UNCAT), ii.

1948 Universal Declaration ofHumar Rights (UDHR) (Art.

5), iii.

1966 lnternational Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) (Art.

7l v. Istanbul Protocol of 199a.

This is what ACTV has been using in its entation of victims and s specialised care professional docum and services.

In the African region; i.

1989 Convention on the Rights ofthe Child (CnC) (art.
S7 (a)), ii- 1981 Africal Charter on Human and Peoples Rights (Art.

5) Domestic 1aw; i.

Articles 24 ar.d 44 of the 1995 Constitution of Uganda, li.

^f}:e 2Ol7 Regulations to the Prevention and Prohibition of Torture Act, 2072, iii.

Anti Terrorism Act, 2OO2 - Section 21(e), Section 24(4) ofthe Police Act Cap 303, The Prevention and Prohibition of Torture Act 2012 and the Human Rights Enforcement Act 2019.

Rt Hon.
Rt Hon.

Speaker, ACTV opined that the right to rehabilitation is a human 'right which continues to be neglected.

ACTV stressed that civic space and human rights enjoyment continue to shrink especially aJter the closure of 54 NGOs by the NGO Bureau.

ACTV informed the Committee that torture victims remain silent for fea-r of retribution.

This fear is compounded by the lack of a witness ction I U ACTV informed the Committee that the Istanbul Protocol ard guidelines for documentation ofcases oftorture.
This is the gold standard for investigation and handling of case of torture.

ACTV asserts, however, that health workers, legal professions, police officers, prisons staff and judicial offers have limited appreciation of its importance and applicability.

Ultimately, this undermines the abiliff of victims of torture to access justice.
ACTV asserts that this situation is further compounded by ofiicers of the UPF's continued reiuctance to utilise Form 4 of the 2017 Regulations to es ru1 b/,<" "J p2, (, Page 5O 150 the Prevention and Prohibition of Torture Act 2012 when investigating and documenting torture cases III.

Torture TYends q.n:qlgsis in Uganda The Committee was informed that, on average, ACTV registers 1,O00 cases of torture allegations for treatment, rehabilitation and legal support annually.
ACTV in the same period registered and offered treatment and rehabilitation services to 960 {532 Male and 428 Female) cases of alleged torture and other cmel, inhuman or degrading treatment.

The perpetrators of these human rights violations are alleged to be from security agencies like UPDF, UPF as wellas private individuals including local leaders, Resident District Commissioners and politicians, ACTV reported that 323 torture victims were aged between the most productive period of their lives.
They noted tha impacts on the National Agenda ol socia-l economic transformation and consequently, nation building.

18 and 35 years; t this negatively integration and cowD79 Pqndemic end enlorcetnent o.f the meo.sures qnd gu liaes ACTV reported that the implementation of the COVID-19 Standard Operating Procedures and directives regrettably resulted into alleged torture and ill treatment by some erraJlt enforcers.
ACTV related that from Jaruary 2O21 to February 2022, it received and treated 1 16 c om torture meted 9 guidelines and by security agencies durin .i \s/ directives.

\V\x arising fr COVID.l ru.


ILe 2027 cefterql Elections enfor The Committee was informed that the January 2021 genercl election period coincided with the restrictive measures taken to curb the spread of COVID- This posed a challenge to state and political actors as they had to ensure that campaigns and elections were conducted while observing COVID-19 SOPs.

This resulted into reports of alleged rarnpant brutalities arld torture incidents.
From JanuarT 2021 to February 2022, AC'IV offered treatment and rehabilitation senices to 109 victims of torture ar-ising from election related violence.

15 victims were allegedly tortured by private individual political extremists, while the other 94 victims were allegedly tortured by rogue securl agents, politicials and loca-l leaders L oe ,a 6J Page 51 of Rt Hon.
Speaker, the Commiltee com,me,,,ds AC'|V for the pioneer uork theg continue to d.o in treating and rehqbllitqting the ulctir/rs ol torturc, in trainiag securitg agetts, the legq.l lraternitg o,'1,d rmedical pc/son'rel ln handling reportirlg and.

d.ocunentqtlon o.f cases o,f torture.

The Commilrtee recommend,s that the Ugo.'ftdo.

Law Relonrt Co',I:,,?


:issTo'i., the l[i/Ijstry ol Justice and Constitutlonq.l Alfqirs, the First Parliamentary Counsel and the Miaistry of Internal AfJqtrs should fast t7.o,ck p,.ocessl'[,g ol the Witness Protectlon Bill, the NotTo,a,(Il Legal Aid.

Blll qnd the Human Rights Defenders Protection Bill and sub',r:lt them to Parllo,ment for consideration utithin 6 months.

Gouernnent should.
Gouernnent should.

rqtw the Otr tion:q.l Ptotocol to tlle Conaen,tio,t Agq.inst Torture IOPCAI) 2006, to @llotD unlirnlted, qccess to @lI places of detention in a,ddltion to establishment ol a Nqtional Prcventioa Mechq,'?is'n_ (NPM) o,gqinst torture.

The Parlla,ment oJ Ugandq shou6 increase appropriation of resoufces touard.s the iaaestigetlon qgencies in order to develop the cqpq.citg to gqther euid,e\ce lot use 7n the courts ol lau to eflectiaelg implenent the PPTA Pollticiq.ns and.
political ltd.rties shoud: a ?aise au)qveness to the need.

to report ccses o, torAtre qs stat d. irt Sect on 20 of the PPTA.

J o instltute mechanistns th@t prodd.e q,ccess to professional and timelg d.ocumentation oI ulctims of torture g:n,d vioknce.

fess toftufe, \ o Cteqte q dialogue lot poritical pa rties to a.rr.d.

politicq,l tiolence.

The Ugo.ndq.

Pollce Force should.

: o inaestvate and institute chdrges usittg the Preaention and.
Prohibition of Torture Act, 2072 on o-ll qlleged 2027 genetal elec Cao'rs torture case s. the use o,f the PPTA regulatlons for etlectiae documefttqtiort of q.ll torture a.lleg(ltio'ts to inJonn elfectlae inlrestigalion.

quq.il its olficers lmpliceted.

in the 2027 Genero.l Election tiorence, COWD- 79 guid.eltnes enJorcemen t .r'td torture to be o P, P e52of15 i, \\ I Sr^ )/4 investigated end prosecuted qccordinglg ln the crininal courts rathe" tha;n the disclpliaqry courts.
continuouslg tr@ia lts olJices on principles o.f human rights and.

publlc ord.er manq,gement, during election periods.

Uganda People's Delence Forces should,: a auall qll its ofJicers lmplicated 7n the 2O2 1 General Election vlolence, COVID-79 guidelines enforcement and torture lor investigqtlon and prosecution be done qccordiaglg in the a continuouslg train its offr.cers on principles oJ human rights aad public order management especiollg during election period.s so as to qaoid.
the high number oJ inciden,ts ot election uiolence.

The Ugq.nd.a Huma.n Rlghts Co,,ar'alssio't (IIHRC) should; lnvestigate and.

d.ocurrtent torture relq ted.

clq.ims and.

huma rights uiol@tions, and.

e'rsu,.e thqt surviaors' qccess to justice for the uioletions ol the right oJ Jreed.om tron lorture.

(Section 7 (2) o.nd.

(3) o!

the UHRC Act Cap 24) o popularise the use o.f PPTA 2077 Regulqtions lor effectiye implenentation of the Pteoention qnd.
Prohibition o.f Torture Act No.s ol 2072. o deuelop a ptogrq,mnue to lqst-trqck receipt o,f the cornpensqtory o.tD@rd.s to torture uictl',ts and survivors in accordance uith Section 7 lk) ol the Ugqndd Humqn Right{ n Act Cq.p 24.

Ciuil societg orgo,,flsations srljouw: a create au)ale'ress a.bout the "ight oJ Jreedom lrom torture and.

tlv importa.nce o!

earlg professl.onq,l d,oc,umentqtiort oJ suraiaors of torture.
o build a relerral mechq,nism th@t c(IIt suptr ort etlectioe reho,billtatioa (i.e., medical tre@tmelt and psgchosocial seruices) of suliTtors and.

q.ccess to justice.

Ministry ol Health should: u the Ista Protocol sq cs to increase accessibllltg Page 53 of 150 ,S-rJ. )

/ alrd qaailqbilitg of docrrmentatlorr sen ices tor survlr;ors of tot'Ate, o develop o. policg on comprehensiae reho.billtqtion o!

suruivors o!

torture as it is stated in Generql com,?l,ent I;lumber 4 to the Alrlca'l Charter.
Ugand.a alreadg hq,s a National Polleg on Ellmlnqtion of Gend.er Based.

violence, a institute policg grtidelines on treqtmeat qnd rehebilitadon o.f torture uictims, a set up centres wlth trqined personnel to treat qnd reha.bilitatc torture nictims, o increqse qccessibilltg o.f ,,tre'ttol health services and atoqreness to com,munities so as to support t Le mang sarulruors of election guidelines enlorcernent.

violeftce o.nd.
violeftce o.nd.

COWD- Iac q.l Goae rnme nts should ; o ln qccordqnce with sectiott 77 (b) ol the lacal Goaeflments Act Cap 243, work together urith No,a-Goaer7tm,en,tql Orgq'aisatlo'trs ia saJeguarding the cioic spo.ce which enebles identiJication, documen,tatlo,r (In,d reterral oJ torture related cqses lot q)ecldlised.

cq,re a.nd.

leg@l suppot't; o ,,I,(rinstreqm q Humqn Rights Ba.sed Approach uhile ,nonitor,ng the provlslon ol Gotemnent serolces qnd @ng project lmplerne'1.

:to:tlo7- lr'./ithir.


their areqs oJ controw@derswr/Jurisdiction, in accordqnce wlth section 24 o.f the Locql Governments Act Co,p 243 q,ad Nqlrlon@l .

DeaelopmentPlqn I; o Ln (rccordance ulth Section 26 (c) on mrrilrtena ce of lanl, order qnd.
securitg a'nd Section 26 (e) o.f the Local Goaernments Act cap.243, seasitise the publlc rejer therrt on torture and hur4an righas tor speciallsed care and wg co.ses The generql public s o report all q.cts of torture tutions, and (rlso seek Jor prolessionql doc'umentatioa of thelr "xpeience, a akDags use leg@l meqns to adaocqte Jor their dghts, and the releuent h other in order to aroid.

lltlcal uiolence.
lltlcal uiolence.

t ( Page 54 of 150 # 12 I The Coqlttion Ag@lnst Torture (cAT) shouldj a creqte horizontal sgnergies tulthln pqrtners that work oa human rights issues; c.t build the capacitg o!

its nemhership to identiJg, document q.nd reler torture relqted.

c@ses lor specialised.

cqre qnd prolride legql supporU a adaocqte lor the operqtionalisatlon oI the 2077 Ptevention and Prohibition ol Torture Regulqtions; a Utilise Fonn 4 o,f the 2077 Regulations in docurrvnting to rture re lo,te d q.lleg @tions.
TrE media fr@ternitg should.

; a continue tdentifging qnd refet'ring torture relqted cases speclalised care and.

support; embrq,ce the traumq,-inionned.

approach in lnvestiga.tion aad.

telllng stories of torture uictinls and.

sut'uiuors; a coatinue exposlng torture i'rciden,ts ..to loster tortute p reve ntio n and accou ntabilitg.
The Olfice ol the Dlrector o.f Public Prosecutions srtourdi a Expeditiouslg prosecute all alleged cases of torture during the 2027 Generq., Electtons qnd COWD-7g guadeli^es enlorcenent using tlle PPIA so thqt all perpetrq.tors q.re indiuiduallg hew o.cc otntable.

The Jud.iciary should; lnsist on tlv non-q.d.mission ol evidence obtalned through torture and lll treq,tment lrorn suspecas, (Sectlon 74 q,nd 75 ol the Preoention and.
Prohibition ol Torture Act 2012) and ) nullw q.ll prosecutlon of torture uictlr?|s.

St-----^- 1 Page 55 of 150 r<P t J 4.5.3 Human Rights and Peace Centre: Makerere Universlty School of Law The Committee interacted with the Human Rights and Peace Centre (HURIPEC) - MUK School of Law.

HURIPEC submitted to the Committee that the passing of the national Constitution in 1995 was a landmark change in Uganda's human rights and constitutional history.
It guara-nteed progressive recognition of human rights in its Chapter Four Bill of rights.

The Government of Uganda is the key duty bearer and has obligations to respect, protect, and fu1fil human rights.

HURIPEC observed that since 1995, there have been a number of negative developments with regard to the promotion and protection of human rights.
This Centre highlighted some of the challenges to humal rights enjoyment in Ugarda in the perrod,2O2O - 2022 both in the area of civil ard political as well as economic, social ald cultural rights.

It emphasized the effects of Covid- I on the enjoyment of human rights in the country.

I Abductioas, d.eatll.s q,nd extrq.


jud.ici(ll kilungs HURIPEC reported that from the start of the official presidential and parliamentary election campaigns in November 2O2O, rtot less than 5OO Ugandars were abducted, kidnapped, held in custody without trial or in military facilities arrd "safe houses", or killed extra-judicially.
HURIPEC alteged that on November 18 and 191h 2O2O alorre, it was estimated that over 1OO Ugardans were executed on the streets of Kampala in a bid to contain protests that were tdggered by the arrest of NUP Party flag bearer Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu.

They further claimed that while a few ofthe citizens arrested in this onslaught were arraigned before courts of law, an unknown number were found dumped in jungles and other remote places; often in poor hea.lth, bearing torture marks.
Some women reported to have been sexua.lly violated- These acts have gone hand in harld with a growing practice of trying Ugarldan citizens in s is against the letter military tribunals.

HURIPEC expres and spirit of Uganda s constitution concem that U.

Narrowing civic sp@ce HURIPEC informed the Committee that there ale growlng ep1sodes of attacks on civil society, mostly targeting actors deemed to be working on electora.l democracy, natural resources management, humal rights and political accountability.
According to it, the trend suggests that citizens, their organisations as well as anyone funding them are target ed W s_."

Page 56 of 150 U s/ HURIPEC enumerated the attacks on civic space as follows i.

The closure of the Democratic Govemance facility (DGF) a funding agency for civil society since 2020; ii.

The ban of unregistered forms of citDen organizing such as loose coalitions like the National Election watch (NEW-U) in October 2020.
The NEW-U, a coalition of six[r four domestic COs planning to observe the elections, was arbitrarily decla-red illega] aIrd suspended via a public statement issued by the NGO Bureau on October 29 2020.

NEW-U had operated under a lega1 loophole in which coalitions are not expressly required to register; iii.
The Deportation of staff of foreign missions (embassies) ard staff of international NGOS working on elections; 1V The freeze on bank accounts of several NGOs working on democracy, humar1 rights and accountability including the Uganda National NGO Forum, Chapter Four ald Ugalda Women's Network (UWONET).
v. Targeted break-ins on NGO premises and homes of staif, without any ' report on investigations from the state; Arrests of civil society leaders, such as the Executive Director of AFIEGO, Mr Dickens Kamugisha arrd other stalf across the country in Octobet 2021, the ED of Chapter Four in December 2O2O et 20 CSO Election observers in Januarjr 2021; vii.

Withholding CSO tax exemptions.


Under the Non-Governmental Organisations Regulations, 2077, rnaty COs were stripped of existing tax exemptions and had to re-apply for them ln process that remained unclear and complicated.

Very tions were granted ions in 2020 HURIPEC maintains that these attacks are not bing but indicate the deteriorating humal rights situation in the country especia-11y in view of the fact that they fall outside of the operations of the law.
HURIPEC raised issue with the legal framework regulating CSOS in Uganda.

They contend that laws such as the Public Order Management Act, 2013; the Non Governmental Organisations Act 2016; and the Police Act 2006 (as amended) have the potential to suppress civic space in Ugalda.

Most of these laws have been passed under suspicious circumstances surrounded with public and international criticism.

Rt Hon.
Rt Hon.

Speaker, HURIPEC argues by organisations whose maldate direc wrarh of rhese laws is moslly felr eITIment accountability s for J f+l- Page 57 of 150 (_ '1 acy.

In pafticular, to the citizenry and promote good go the aforementioned laws have introduced maly procedural and non- procedural requirements which stifle the operation for CSOs Furthermore, HURIPEC contends that the Non-Governmenta-l Organisations Act of 2016 creates dgorous registration procedures for NGOs.
The Act is ful1 of bureaucracy which alfects the smooth operation of NGOs.

That it provides for a process of incorporation, registration and obtaining a permit.

Yet, after these steps the Act requires any orgalisation that wishes to carry out activities in any part of the country to be authorised by a district NGO Monitoring Committee.
this 1aw places a number of lega1 ald regulatory policy measures that impose cumbersome administrative procedures thereby limiting the freedom of association, provides for overly broad, undefined, arld vague obligations that contravene the principle of lega1ity, with the potential to tDozzTe t}je abllity of the NGOS to operate meaningfully iII Ugarda.
HURIPEC supports its claims by citing a number of orgalisations that have expressed fears and concerns about the adver:se effects of these legislative provisions on their activities while others have experienced its wrath on their mandates and objectives.
They conclude that the NGO Act has reinforced an already hostile environment for CSOS in the country and in general, the lega-l regime on civic space has created an environment of fear and self-censorship arnong most CSOs in carrying out their duties under the fear of being deregistered I[.

The right to priaq.cg and.

ma.nagetnent of personel d.ata HURIPEC further submitted that parallel and multiple collection of personal data of Ugandans has serious repercussions on the right to dignity and privacy.
Processes like SIM card registration, validation of SIM Cards with a national ID, and capturing of biometric data has deposited a lot of personal information in the custody of private telecom comparries operating in Uganda.

It maintains that the sarne is true of a number of institutions both in the private and public sector.

Article 27 of Ugarrda's Constitution protects the dght to privacy of person and guarartees that no person shall be subjected to interference with cation or other property.
acy of their correspondence, It argues th be strictly regulate ere is a Data Protection Law, all personal data d on how to use citizen's ns should #..

Page 58 of 150 v TV Persistent use of torture and dlsregard of the securitg agencies "ight to ba state Rt Hon.

Speaker, HURIPEC also made a submission on the cases ofKakwenza Rukirabashaija and Sarnuel Masereka both of which have been conversed under section 4.1.7 of this report.
HURIPEC contends that Uganda's courts have failed to condemn torture ard tbe unlawful re-arrests of persons who press dissent against the State urged government to hold perpetrators of torture to account in crimina-l s. They argue that the lack of accountability emboldens impunig for the court crime of torture.

They reiterated Uganda Law Society's caII upon State leaders arld the Judiciary to send a stern message of discipline and to tal<e action against the perpetrators oI torture.
HURIPEC further raised concern about disregard of the right to apply for bail ey noted that while speaking at the opening ol the 2022 New Law Year, esident Museveni characterised the grant of bail as provocation" They timidate expressed fear that the president's public pronouncements judicial officers v. Ellects of oOWD-79 on humqn rlghts enjogment I Rt Hon.
Speaker, HURIPEC expressed concern that the government ofUganda used the COVID-1g pardemic to impose excess arld disproportional restrictions to the enjoyment of human rights.

Some have referred to he "weaponisation of lockdown restrictions.

I I t It reported on the negative repercussion of the COVID-19 crisis on economic rights.
It quoted a Ministry of Finalce, Plalning, and Economic Planning report on Uganda's economy, stating that an additional 780,ooo Ugandals were pushed into poverty in 2O2O as unemplol,.ment increased and household incomes dwindled.

J HURIPEC reported that Civil society organisations were also affected by the pandemic.
With the lockdown measures in 2O2O ar\d 2021, many NGOS were not able to comply with their annual registration processes ard filing of financia-l returns with the Financial Intelligence Authority (FtA).

Regulation 45(1) of the Anti-Money Laundering Regulations of 2015 requires every accountable person to report their level of compliance to the FIA at the end of each calendar year in a process that can be long arfd tedious.
It reported that Bureau, only 2,234 of the roughly 13,000 CSOS in its according to the database in 2020 valid certificates of registration and operating permits.

\<"+ Page of 150 L .

)F--., In 2021, most CSOS continued to work under threat of closure for non- compliance in 2020.
HURIPEC further reported that alongside COVID-19, in 2020 alone, Uga-nda experienced emergencies such as floods, locust invasion, rising water levels on Lake Victoria and droughts which had serious socio-economic impacts on the population ald exposed stark disparities in individuals'and groups' capacity to cope with the sudden downturns in incomes, livelihoods and social wellbeing.
As a result, there was a slump in economic gro\ /th as people lost or had their income significantly reduced across all sectors.

Consequently, the Ministry of Finarlce, Planning a],Id Economic Development estimated that in addition to 8 million people who live below the nationa.l poverty line, between 800,O0O ard 2.6 milLion people would fall into poverty due to loss of livelihoods as a result of the pandemic.

The Bank of Uganda monetary policy report projected economic growth of between 3/.
otd 3.59. but noted that the economic outlook going forward remains uncertain due to COVID-1g and its effects.

HURIPEC purported that attempts at stimulating recovery have seen the government engage in unprecedented borro$ring that has increased public debt and introduced new or increased taxes to secure income for running government programmes, yet there are concerns that the secured recovery funds are not reaching the individuals and sectors most in need.
HURIPEC stated that a key lesson learnt from the pardemic is the role of resilient and quality public services to cushion people from the socio economic fall out resulting from the pardemic.

It asserted that Uganda is gradually abdicating her responsibility to provide essential public services like health and education.
The implementation of the structural adjustment programs left a big blow to public sewices delivery especially water, education health and electricity te at to ganda struggles with weak public HURIPEC expressed conce health systems and inadequately equipped schools, lack of access to clean and saJe water ald expensive and often inaccessible electricity.

They advised that the State is obligated to invest more in social protection ard public services such as health and education.
It noted however, these public critical services continue to be under funded and further affected by the gradual privatization of public services.
The private sector is increasingly relied upon to deliver social seryices like health care ald education, organised in procedures rangi ps (PPPS) from purely private to Public Private Partn 1 Page 60 of 15 I I I I I I I I t I I I I I I I T I I I I HURIPEC reports that there has been a tnassive and unprecedented increase of private providers of these services in Uganda.

In health, 55% of the health facilities are private or community owned.
In the education sector, at primarJr level, about 397o of the schools are private owned, with about 219'o enrolment rate of the learners.

The private schools share of primary education enrolment has been growing at an average of about 17o per annum over the last ten years.

At the secondar5r level, over 660/o of the schools are private and these have been enrolling on average 51%o of students.
The electricity sector on the other hald was also restructured and distribution privatized to a private pany through a concession.

The country s electricity tarilf remains high The Commil.tee commen,ds HITRIPEC lor the aalue addition lt this inquiry.

The commll*ee recommen,ds thqt Govenment shouw; I Review and relorrn the I,lCiO Act 2076 to lmpose onlg d.ernonstrablg justiJiable regulations o,t l\IGOs azd CSOs.

ii.

Protoct dnd ptomote the hr./mq.,r rights thet are guq.tanteed in the constltution.
ttt, l!.

a. tn.

support the IJHRC qnd.

the Equal Opportlanities Commlsslon to become more tisible q,nd accessible to the Publlc.

cottentment should.

fuug fund.

the vgandq.

Equal Commission to execute it-s mqndate.

improve lacllitdtion to the I,HRC to undertake their core human rlghts protection function qnd conduct ciuic qnd humq.n rights educ@tion.

ensre thqt those who torture q.nd.

violqte the humqn rights of Vgqndans are prosecutcd, vil.
Ensure thqt petpetrators of to"ture qre held o.ccountable in the courts ol lqu, 4.5.4 Human Rlghts Watch Perspective on The State ofHuman Rlghts ia Uganda The Committee received submissions from the Human Rights Watch.

Rt Hon.

Speaker, Human Rights Watch is an independent, non-profit, non- rights organisation.

Each year, Human Rights Watch rnmental gove publ ishes mo s on human righls conditions in 1O0 reports ard b I Page 61 of 15O 6.J.

# ti- more than 90 co es.


The findings of their investigations are used to advocate for changes in policy and practices that promote human rights and justice around the world.

The Humal Rights Watch submission to the Committee focused on its research lrndings and its the March 2022 report on the unla&'ful detention of people in ungazetted places of detention in Uganda since 2020.

The research was undertaken between April 2019 and November 2021.
Filty one people were interviewed including former detainees and witnesses of abductions, as well as lawyers, government ofhcials, members ofparlia-rnent, opposition party members, diplomats, human rights activists, journalists, and representatives of non-governmental organizations (NGOs).
I Un o.tDlul detentions during the 2027 Election Camlr(Iuns The Committee was informed that Human Rights Watch found that for several weeks following widespread and sometimes violent protests on November 18e ar,d 19th 2O2O, in Kampala and other parts of Uganda, security forces carried out a spate of arbitrary arrests and detentions of opposition supporters, govemment critics, and others for allegedly participating in the protests.
Humar Rights Watch contends that armed men, including police, soldiers, and other security agents in plainclothes, grabbed people from the streets, their homes, or their workplaces ard took them way in unmarked Toyota Hiace vars, locally known as " Drones."

Human Rights Watch opined that the lawless ma,nner in which these arbitrary detentions happened qualifies them for "abductions".
It asserts that there is no doubt that these are not the random actions ofa rogue cohort of criminals, but a deliberate practice carried out by law enforcement and security operatives, knowingly operating outside of the law, Human Rights Watch accuses security forces of engaging not just in arbitrary detention but enforced disappearances.

Enforced disappearances are, for good reason, prohibited at all times afid criminalized under intemational law.

II.
II.

Plq.ces oJ detention Human Rights Wa following locations r all that the unlawful de ons th 1 u 111 Maximum ty Prison, Kigo, Wakiso Kitalya Maximum Security Prison, Kitalya, Wakiso Kissajj agirwa military barTacks, Masaka Masata Police Station, saka S", Page 62 of 150 ".\9u' CEc Masaka Ssaza Prison, Masala Chieftaincy Military Intelligence headquaiters, Mbuya, Kampala Makindye military barracks, Makindye, Kampala Special Investigations Directorate, Kireka, Kampala.
vi vii viii III Unlaw,ful arrest"s qnd detention of opposltlon supportcrs The Committee was informed that Human Rights Watch documented emblematic cases of people who were arbitrarily detained and held in unauthorised locations, for allegedly participating in protests or for supporting the opposition.
Most were later released, Former detainees told Human Rights Watch that aJter the security forces who detained them lorced them into waiting "Drones", they beat them, drove them to unknoun locations and tortured them using sadistic methods.

The Commlt*ee notes that llunan Rights Watch d.ecllfled.

to prottid.e the identlties oJ the alleged victims citan,g confldenti@litg @nd tLeir uork protocols.
The Commil'tee l./Jc,s therelore u,ro,ble to independentlg ted the allegqtiofls contqined in the flibmissions ol Hum@n Rtghts Wqtch.

^ For purposes oJ eoidefice-based.

reportlng, beneJit from materl.al disclosure in respect C ommilrte e u ould g re qtlg ry q.llegqtion ,nqde.

4.5.5 Uganda JourDalists' Association Rt Hon.


Speaker, in a liberal democratic state, thb media plays a plvotal role by informing the public a]td performing a watch-dog function- The media plays a vital and complimentaqr role in the dissemination of information, education, the fight against corruption and the promotion and protection of human rights and democratic principles and practices.
Govemment has a duty to guarantee journalists' enjo),ment of constitutional rights and freedoms of speech, expression and conscious.

Uncensored ald unhindered press or other media as a cornerstone of a democratic society l. SctentilicElections Rt Hon.

Speaker, Ugalda has held six general, parliamentary and local council elections since the promulgation of the 1995 Constitution.
s da Journalists'Association (UJA) reported to the Committee that each of ese elections presented varying degrees of politically motivated yiolence ard members, and supporters Page 63 of 150 buses by poLitical parqr idates, human rights +F 6 q UJA accused law enforcement personnel of using excessive force during the six elections arld proposed that the 2021 general elections were the worst experience for journalists ald human rights defenders.
UJA expected to play a more pivotal role in the electioneering process since the elections were conducted during the COVID-19 outbreak when public gatherings a-nd political campaign rallies were banned.

The Electoral Commission restricted candidates to virtual campaigns using Radio stations, TVs and other media of communication to solicit votes.

Rt Hon.

Speaker, UJA reported to the Committee that severaljournalists were injured by security during the course of their work; covering ttre 2021 elections.
A survey conducted by UJA, for the period November 2"d 2020 and May 12,t 2021, they recorded violations of rights for over 50 journalists in form of physical attacks, confiscation of work tools, vanda,lism, tea.r gas and pepper sprays, unwarrarted arrests, detenlion arld intirnidation by the security forces and private citizens.

The survey revealed exploitation ofjournalists by their employers during the COVID-19 pardemic lock dow]1 and its negative impacts on their livelihoods.
The other form of abuse recorded by UJA was the internet shutdown by the state.

It further opined that a number of regulatory measures arld legislations applied against professional journalists practices by the state agencies are draconian.

II.

cq.ses ol uiolation-s ofjournalists qnd other citizen's rights UJA provided the Committee with a list of lifteen incidents in which rights of journalists an od under review.
i.o n N er citizens were alleged violated d the r 3 2O2O, Vision Group journalist, Ronald Kakooza was arrested while covering events at the Fomm for Democratic Chalge ' Headquarters in Najjalakumbi.

On the sa-rne day, a group olmore than 3ojournalists who *ere covering presidentia-l nominations at Kyarnbogo Universit5r were tear-gassed and pepper-sprayed by the security personnel.
On November 5 Moses Bwayo, a freelance journalist was reportedly shot - at with a rubber bullet artd sustained facial injuries while covering candidate Robert Kyagulalyi's journey from Kibuli mosque to his party headquarters in Kamwokya.

On November 12 2O20, the BS TV crew covering Kyagulanyi's campaign in Northem Ugarda by unknown assailants who Page 64 of 150 attacked L E u r11.

U l # vandalized their car ard stole their property including a laptop and phones.
These journalists included Daniel Lutaaya and Thomas Kitimbo.

On November 18 2O20, Ashral Kasirye, a journalist with Ghetto Media was brutally arested and sustained injuries that left him hospitalized On the same day, Sam Balikowa, a journalist with City FM and Nile TV, who was covering Kyagulalyi's campaigns in Luuka District was brutally arrested.

Arthur Wadero of Daily Monitor was also attacked on his way from covering the salne event.
On December 12 2O2O, David'famale of Bukedde TV, SsessargaBatte of BBS TV, John Cliff Wamala of NTV, Moses Waiswa of Busoga One FM, Ronald Mugenyi of Ghetto Media and Jonan Atusingwize of Pearl FM were assaulted by the security personnel as they covered Kyagularyi's campaigns in Alebtong District.

On December 27 2O2O, Ali Mi\,nle of NTV, Dariel Lutaaya and Ashraf Kasirye were hit with suspected explosives by the police which seriously .
left them injured as they covered Kyagularyi's campaigns alKyabaf za/ in Masaka district.

Kasirye went out of conscious for a very long time as a result of severity from an explosive that was fired at his head.

On December 30th, several journalists including Derrick Wandera of Daily Monitor and Culton Scovia Nakarnya of BBS TV were arrested as they took pictures of Kyagulanyi s arrest in Kalangala.

They were both and leased without charges.
Wandera's phone was im damaged On the same day, journa-lists in Masaka under SOBUJA accused the Masaka RPC Enock Baine of persistent violation of their rights in form of harassment- issuance of threats and vowed to suspend coverage of police activities if it did not stop On the sarne day, (December 3oth, 2020), then the Deputy IGP Maj. Paul Lokech issued a statement in which he vowed to command the police enforce the Media Council restrictive orders against journalists that had not been accredited by the Council to cover election, setting as ultimatum 31st December 2O2O for them to have the said clearance.
On Jaluary 5 2021, Bruno Aliga, a journalist based in West Nile was abducted in connection with the political campaign related issues in the country.

Journalists Tirnothy Murungi (New Vision), Henry Sekaljato (New Vision), Joseph Sabiiti (then NBS TV), Thomas Kitimbo (NBS TV), , John Cliff Wamala (NT!, lrene Abalo(Daily Geoffrey 150 si$/e ( Page t vi vii viii x xlr x111.

xlv e ../.
xlv e ../.

Monitor) , Shamim Nabakooza (Record TV), Rashida Nakaayi (Galaxy FM) and Josephine Namakumbi (NBS TV), were on wednesday 17th February,2o21, badly beaten by the military police as they covered the NUP president Robert Kyagulanyi Sentanu who was delivering his petition to the UN Humar Rights ofhce in Kololo- KampaJa.

NTV s Mityana- based correspondent Enock Mator-u was on Friday 23 April, 2027, beaten by soldiers.
A group of soldiers at Busimbi - Gombolola in Mityala accused him of moving during curfew hours despite being arr essentiar worker.

IMM The Committee held a joint meeting a number of stakeholders to address the concerns of the journalists.
The stakeholders included the Attorney Getreral's Chambers, the MiDistry of Defence and Veteran A.IIalrs, the Miaistry of Itrformation and Natioaal Guidance, the Ministry of Internal AfIairs, the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social DevelopEent, the Mlnlstry for Security, the UPDF, the UPF, Uganda Ptisons Service, UJA and Uganda Parliamentary Press AssociatioD.

The Committee noted that in most cases actlon had been taken against offending individuals.

Compensation and apology had also been rendered.


trIhile the Committee commended the eutltles for the remedial action taken, it took the position t t violations and abuses should never occur itr the first place.

The Cor,a nittee ,.ecomme'a,ds lhqt; t. it.

III.

ia.

a, \ The wF @lad.

wDF in all their operatiorl"s shou,d creqte @ mediq The Mini.stry ol Gende\ Labour a.nd social Development, the Mlnistry ol ICT o,nd.
Nqtion@l G'rida'nce as well as Uganda Comtnunl.catiotts Commissiort shourd conduct studies into mechanisms to irnproae the remuneratioft and l1Jorklng conditions o.f iou,Ti'allsts o.nd.

other media praclitioners.

Goaemment sho?.rld.

desist from intemet shutdouns.

Joumqlists shou,d stick to the prolession,ol conduct and desist trom political qctluls,,a throwhout their operalions.

The leadership o.f Ug@n,d(r Police Force should und.ettake a dellberqte policg to frequentlg educ@te and.
sensltize pollce otJicers on proi@ting qnd protecting the rights of.joum@lists qnd other Ugar.da'/rs.

L p).

age 66 of 150 ...t ^.$; vi, vii.

uiit.

Gooeturnent should, note that compensatio't of the assaulted journalists uas p@rtiallg done @nd it should.

proside lor compens(rtio'a o.f @ll those wllose pagments remained oubtqnding.

Those whose equlpment w@s dq.mq,ged or destrogcd should also be compensated.
Goaenament srlould mEet the nedicql bi,Is of @ll jour7?,alists injured bg securitg qgents during the course o.f their operqtions.

coaernment should lnstitute a minimum wage.

4W'=" I lil F3- ,Y Page 67 of 150 I 4.6 POLITICAL PARTIES REPRESENTED IN P The Committee noted that the number of allegations of torture and other humal rights violations reported to UHRC and other entities increased exponentially during the peak of an election cycle.
There is a nexus between political activities aIrd allegations human rights abuse.

ENT The Committee invited all political parties represented in Parliament to deliver their assessment of the state of human rights in the country during the period under review.
It should be noted, however, that substantive submissions were received only from the National Resistance Movement (NRM), the National Unity Platform (NUP), Forum for Democratic Charge (FDC) and Ugaida People's Congress (UPC) 4.6.1 National Realstance Movement (NRM) The ruling party, NRM submitted that during the period under review, Ugardars generally have continued to enjoy the fundarnental rights aJId freedoms guaranteed under the Constitution.
The NRM acknowledged that the long spell of CO\rlD-19 presented cha.llenges to the promotion and protection of human rights while at the same time curbing the pandemic.

It sta-rted that whenever there was derogation, it was dem strably justifiable e survival of a-nd only intended to safeguard the sanctity of life Ugandans speciJEc HumaD Rights violatiotrs claims by JVRM I.

The Committee was informed that there are specific violations of the rights of NRM members reported during the period under review.
Among these are rs.'

1.

Election petition No-7 of 2027 of Fort portal High Court r$ a b c d e Birungi Sarnuel, OmuherezaMugabyomu Joseph, Kabuzi Wilson Nyamutare, MwarguhyaAbiola, and, Musinguzi Baseka Adolf.

Wh--"--"- Rt Hon.

Speal<er, the Committee was informed that the aforementioned persons are NRM members who, on the polling day, were allegedly abducted ard tortured by al independent candidate for the Parliamentary Elections.
The independent caldidate subsequently deposited them at a police station.

+e.

t t Page 68 of 150 ii.

Mr Kizito Leonard Mr Kizito Leonard is an NRM supporter and a resident of Kakuny-u D cell, Bukomero Trading centre, Kiboga District.

His residence was torched by anti- NRM elements within the trading centre.

The NRM members contend that this was an act of political violence intended to intimidated NRM supporters.

iii.
iii.

Mr Kabunga Godfrey Mr KabunBa Godfrey is an NRM member al|d a resident of Muzaajra Zone senyi I Parish in Kampala Central.

During the election period, he was era Hotel.

He attacked by goons as he was coming from a meeting uffered severe injuries on the head iv.

Kawumuza Miladi Mr Miladi was an NRM mobilizer.

He aJleges that he was attacked by NUP youth goons at the Tula Zone, Kawempe I1 Parish durinB the campaigns on the 4 December 2020.

He sustained a compound fracture ofleg.


Mr. Mukiibi James Mukiibi alleged that his vehicle was destroyed during the campaign.

The NRM identifies him as a staunch supporter Kabonge John A resident of Wabusarke C Kalagala ward, Wakiisi Division, Njeru Municipality, Buikwe District a registered NRM supporter, alleges that was violently attacked by anti NRM elements during the last election cycle.
vl1 Owachgiu Charles Moses Mr Owachgiu is a registered NRM supporter who alleges that his mot vehicle, a Toyota Paso used for carnpaigns was torched and destroyed at Nwoya district close to Alago bridge by anti-NRM elements.

TrLe Committee observed.

thqt the leael ol violence and lc4rlessness during elections ls uorrying.

For Ugand.a's goung democracg to sur.uiae ead thriae, ulolence ond lautlessness should.

be Jimlg d,eq.lt urith.


The Comrnltbe recomrnends that ( *c Page 69 of 150 $r9 f' k NtP'/ All political actors should inculcate q cultute of tolerance and lao,a-oiole,it political discourse ,a tlwlr rqnks and emong tlwir supporters.

All (rcts o.f criminqlitg should be thoroughlg inaestigqtod qnd the culprits prosecuted to curb the groulng c'.tlture ol impunitg.

4.6.2 National Unity Platform (NUP) Rt Hon.


Speafter, the Committee received submissions from the Nationa-l Unity Platform (NUP), a registered political party under the laws of Ugarrda.

NUP informed the Committee that attacks on its members have continued unabated.
They cited the example of the 14 October 2O2O incident where it is alleged that a combined force of the UPF and the UPDF raided NUP ofhces without a search warrant and conhscated several items, including bralding materials, documents and money.

It reported that immediately after elections, the party's olfice remained under siege for over a month.
The Committee was inlormed that NUP ofhces in Lira, Kiruhura, Rukiga, arnong others were raided dillerent times- It alleged that party officials were arrested and items, including party registers ar-rd ca-rds, were confiscated by security operatives.

The paJty requested the Committee to investigate violations of human rights suffered by its members from its inception in 2018 when it was still styled as People Power Movement.
The party contended that the members of People Power Movement suffered gross humal rights violations including extra judicia] killings, abduction, torture and illegal detention.

The party presented the following examples of alleged humal rights violations committed prior to the period under review: i. Yasin Kawuma, a driver to Hon.

Kyagulanyi Ssenta-mu Robert shot dead in Arua on 13 August, 2018. ii.
Hannington Ssewankaambo, al<a Sweet Pepsi bruta.lized by security later operatives live on camera on 20 September 2018.

He succumb to his injuries on 31"r October 20 19.

Asumal Walyendo, shot dead in Bugiri on 19 July 2018.

Vincent Sserugaya, shot dead in Gomba on 23 August, 20 Kalende Yusuf, knocked down by a police truck in Luwero on 27 August,2018.

Walugembe Raphael, shot dead in Natete on 14 May, 2olg 111. iv.
v1 woul 18 14 $l&--- H Page 7O of 150 L I d vf1 vt11 ix x Michael Arinda al<a ZigSl Wine, kidnapped and tort 4 September 2019, Lukoma Stephen, shot dead in Buvuma on 7 Jttne,2019.

Kibalama John Bosco, abducted on 3 June 2019 and he is missing to date.

Hakim Ssekamwa, knocked down by a police vehicle on 6 August, 2019 a,nd he died shortly after.

He died on the The Party submitted that Article 20(1) of Ugarda's Constitution stipulates that human .ights are inherent and not granted by the State.
Clause 2 of the same Article, enjoins all organs a:ld agencies of Government and all persons to respect, uphold a1.Id promote the rights arld freedoms enshrined in Chapter Four of our Constitution.

The party however, lamented that most of the egregious violations of humal rights have happened been occasioned by government olficials .
NUP alleged that in November 2020, over 3,OOO Ugardans were abducted ald kept under military detention for several weeks or months before being produced in the military courts.

It further claimed that the security operatives that carry out these abductions are normally dressed in masks covering the entire head, making it difhcult to identify them.
The party alleged that most victims of abductions who were able to identit/ where they were deta.ined and tortured from, have reported being held in safe houses in Kalalgala, Entebbe, Mbuya CMI facility, Kyengera, Nakasongola, i Nakasero, Masata, Matindye with more recent reports of a notorious saJe , house being operated in Mbarara.

It further asserted that its members who' are released from these torture centres orts of hundreds more still under detention.
e NUP reported the following fourteen supporters as missing, having been been allegedly abducted by security operatives: Kibalama John Bosco picked up from Gayaza Road on 3 June, 2019 Ddamulira John abducted on gunpoint in Kisekka Market on 21 November, 2O2O.

Police initially confirmed his arrest.

The High Court issued a hobeos co4purs order for his release Mbabazi Moses aka Kawenja picked up from Kisekka Market on 7 December,2020.

Nalumonso Vincent abducted from Bugolobi Market on 15 December 2020.
.Lukwago Martin December 2 ted from Bugolobi Market on 15 drlc ab Page 71 of l50 1 ii iii iv 1 e ,h / u/.

V) !11 vt11 ix x xi a boda boda stage in Kyebardo in vi.

Zimula Denis abduc November 202O.

Luwemba Mustafah equally abducted from a boda boda stage in Kyembardo in November 2020.

Michael Ssemuddu abducted from Munaku, Kasubi on 21 November 2020.

Hassan Mubiru abducted from Kawaala in November, 2O2O.

Muhereza Gaston, abducted in November 202O.


Kasumba George abducted from Kyotera district on 19 January, 2O21 together with a group of 18 other NUP supporters who were later dumped in swamps and other areas.

Wangolo Shafrk abducted from Nansana, Kyebaldo on 3rd December 2020 Muhammad Kanatta abducted from Namawojolo, Mukono district in November 202O.
Ssempija Yudah picked up from Ky in November, 2020 pisi Sub-county, Mukono district xii xiii xiv l. Extru.iudicial ktl ngs that follov/ing protests in November The party reported to the Committe e 2020, after the arrest ofthe NUP president Hon.

Kyagulanyi Ssentamu Robert in Luuka district, security forces extra judicially killed a number of party supporters.

NUP further alleged that prior to November 2O2O, four other Ugandans were a judicially killed.
They were I 11 iii iv Rita Nabukenya was run over by a police patrol truck on 24 February, 2020.

Daniel Kyey.une was shot dead on 25 Februarjr, 2o2o by or^e FalzaJ Kakooza, arl LDU officer.

Charles Mutyabule was run over by a police vehicle in Mabira on 1 July, 2O2O.

Ssenteza Frank Kalibala, a member of NUP'S security team was rLln by a military police truck No.

H4DF 2382 on27 DeceIr,ber,2q2O.

c. Rt Hon.


Speafter, NUP members reported to the Committee that a number of Ugaldans Iost theii lives during the enforcement of the CoVID-19 SOPS under circumstaJrces indicated against the names of the victim below: 1.

Eric Mutasiga, a head the police a rimary school in Mukono shot by L t Page 72 of 150 €P, P. lr J 11. iii.

iv.

vi.

vii.

viii.

Benon Nsimenta a lay reader in Kasese district shot dead by an LDU.
Margret NanJ rnja, an 8O-year-old woman, who died after LDU personnel raided her home in Kyengera town council and beat her up.

Wilber Kawono, a resident of Budaka District who was shot by police on April I8.

2O2O.

Robert Ssenyonga, a boda boda rider in Njeru municipality who succumbed to wounds at the hands of LQU personnel.

Evelyn Namulondo, a resident of Budhumbuli, in Jinja town, shot in the stomach by security personnel in camouflage.
Charles Sanga, a businessmaJr also died after he was beaten by soldiers and policemen led by then Jinja DC Erick Sakwa.

Vincent Serungi, a resident of Wakiso killed on March 37,2O2O.

uncil who was shot and Torture 1n rea t Hon.


Speaker, NUP informed the Committee of Article 24 of the Constitution, which guarartees the freedom from torture or cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, its members reported being subjected to various forms of torture including water boa.rding, electrocution, use of pliers or wires to pluck parts of the body, beatings, denial of food and water, refusal to sleep, halging, use of boiling water to burn pads of the flesh, etc.
Some victims reported that they were injected with unknown substances either upon arrest, or upon release.

The committee was fudher informed that where cases of todure have been fi1ed in courts of 1aw, it has been very difhcult for victims to get justice NUP availed to the Committee the list of torture victims below 1. ii.

iii.

iv.

vi.

I Hon.


Kyagularyi Ssenta-mu Robert, Hon- Francis Zaake, Ssegawa Ronald, Masereka Samuel, Lumu Ronald, Kawooya Abdluwahab, Nicholas Magezi, Luzige Masuudi, Mutarnbuuka Emmanuel, Yasin Busulwa, Kassim Migadde, John Bosco Sserunkuuma, ,3."

v11.

viii.

ix.

x, xi.

xii.

xiii.


Male M 6.i I Page 73 of 150 xlv XV Umar Kagimu, Lule David a]ld others IIL Attack on the Media C Arttcle 29 (1)(a) of the Constitution protects the freedom of the press and other media, NUP members expressed concern that joumalists continue to be on the receiving end of state sponsored brutality.
NUP members reported that on Febr.rary 17 2027, when its leadership delivered a petition about humal rights abuses to the UN Human Rights oflice in Kololo, military police personnel beat ten journalists; some of whom were hospitalized.

They further reported that Bukedde newspaper journalist Lawrence Kitatta was recently assaulted by police officers while covering a protest against torture.
They alleged that on 1off March, nine jotrrnalists working with the Alternative DigiTa]k TV, an online TV were abducted by security operatives who raided their ofhces alld their items IV.

Electoralmalpractices NUP members reported to the committee that the 2021 election saw some of the vilest forms of election malpractices, denial of t]le right to vote for many Ugarldarrs aIId a general sense of intimidation.
They alleBed that mary NUP polling agents were arrested and tortured and that those who carried Declaration of Results forms were hunted d aten and the DR forms confiscated.

V. Deniql oJthe Freedom of Assemblg Rt Hon.

Speaker, NUP reported that their right to freedom of assembly ald association has frequently been violated.

They further reported that every attempt to hold peaceful protest by any group of people, except NRM supporters, is met with violence aid brutality.
-( According to NUP, the most recent groups to face the wrath of security forces were students of Makerere University demonstrated against the continued closure of the university.

A 23-yeT bio-medica.l sciences student called Ssebugalda Richard hand was smashed by a teargas canister when he turned to his hall of residence, Lumumba HaIl.

He is at Mulago hospital, with little or no help from the authorities.
They further reported that on 15 December, 2021 Doctors under their umbrella organization, Uganda Medical Association were violently blocked st plans by the state from marching to Parliament to evict medical interns from to presen petition b Page 74 of 150 4,.

I t T I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I VI.

Violatlon of right to propertg NUP members alleged that UPF c m their supporters in the period leading up to the January 2021 general elections and in the immediate aJtermath.
onfiscated hundreds of boda bodas VII.

Freedom ol Expression Rt Hon.

Speaker, NUP members contended that the perpetrators of human rights violations turned off of the internet during elections, denying the people of Uganda freedom of expression and access to information NUP members also stated that in some cases, the children of political prisoners have been denied the right to education, the right to health among others.

The Comnlttee recogftlses tLqt tLere qre a of totture victims.
be Committee recommend The poriticql spqce shourd be open, "espect for politicql dissent srrould be promoted.

and.

flt.ri'rta.ined.

This should.

be a reclprocal obligetion of all polltlca, plagers.

Goaetnment shou,dj and n a, iwestlgate e@ch and.

every arlegation o.f torture and.

q.buse of humqn rights bg tDhori.soever rqised and report to the house within q period of slx m,o,?ths.

b. release all politicq.l prison,e':s end aaoid.

trying cilriliqns 7^ mllltary courts.


c. Id.endfg @nd compensate o.ll politico.l prisoners o.s tDell a.s persons who we qrrested @nd released uithout cLqrge.

il.

Financiallg support the UHRC to cotnprehensiaelg engqge qll , I uictims oJ hutnanr rights violatTons.

e. empouter the Electorql Commission to conduct lree qnd lqir elections and.

to conduct comprehensitB ciulc education prior to eaery election.

I.

Judiciary should creqte q Humo.n Rights Diaision oJ the Htgh Court uith specio.ltzed.
Judges to deal uith cqses oJ hunan rights violqtions.

6 4.6.3 Forum for Democratic Change Rt Hon.

Speaker, Ugalda is a ratified and is a signatory to international treaties and conventions.

One of them is the Convention against and deglading treatment or punishment torture and ot ruel, inh Page 75 of 150 #.. $l[.-1 tion of Torture Act, The same is domesticated by the Prevention and 2012.

Parliament also enacted the Human Rights (Enforcement) Act, 2019 to aid in the enforcement of human dghts.
During the course of this inquiry, the Forum for Democratic Changed (FDC) informed the Committee tt.at t}je 2021 General Elections were marred with violence.

Opposition politicials were often arrested, detained ald harassed.

This climaxed in the November 2020 indiscriminate shootings that resulted in the death of several people.

They expressed concern that acts of torture are now institutionalized in the UPF, UPDF and the Judiciary l. Right to ltfe and.

libertg Rt Hon.
libertg Rt Hon.

Speal<er, Members ofFDC alleged that the UPDF is currently involved in extra judicial killings il Karamoja ald implored the committee to investigate the matter expeditiously.

III.

Freedom lrom torture Hon.

Speaker, FDC members reported to the Committee that during the campaigns preceding the general elections of 2021, FDC Flag Bearer and Party President, Hon.

Patrick Amuriat Oboi, was arrested arld tortured a number of times.

They reported that these acts oftorture almost blinded him.
They reported that Dr Stella Nyalzi, who is currently in exile, was psychologically and physically tortured while in Luzira Womens Prison to an extent that she had a miscarriage and highlighted alleged torture of their member Mr Kakwenza Rukirabashai a III.

Freedom oj opinion and expression Rt Hon.

Speaker, everyone has a right to oprnlon and expression without interference and to seek, receive and impart information ard ideas through any media ald regardless of frontiers.
The FDC leadership avers that Dr Kizza Besi$/e has been a victim of violation of these freedoms.

FDC asserts that its leaders have been arrested on their way to radio stations or political rallies, thereby undermining their capacity to engage the public.

They further allege that excessive force is used during the arrests arld that media houses are intimidated.

The Commil*ee comme,tds the FDC for the submission mqde.
L D-' Page 76 of 150 J d, I 4.6.4 Uganda People's Congress (UPC) Rt Hon Speaker, the Uganda People's Congress appeared before the Committee.

In its submissions, the party asserted its belief that the Uganda Government does not adequately observe the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).

They accused the government of arbitra{r arrests, abductions, kidnaps, trial of civilians in military courts and prolonged incommunicado detention.
The party cited the incidents during the January 2021 General Election period where several people, including the party campaign managers experienced violence which infringed on political rights and freedoms of entire citizenry: The Commil*ee comme'rd.s q.l, the political parties that qppeared belore It and.

submitted.

memoranda.

The Cofimittee recommends thqt Gooern rent limits the d,eplognent ol the qrng do policing uork.

,fi..D t t- F.).
,fi..D t t- F.).

([$-""' Page 77 of 15O 4.6.5 Submlssion By the Leader of Opposition Rt- Hon Speater, the Committee on Human Rights invited the Rt Hon.

Leader of the Opposition on three different occasions to make submissions to the Committee.

On another two occasions, he was invited to appear along with the National Unity Platform Party.

He did not honour any ofthe frve invitations extended to him but sent his apologies on account of a busy schedule.
^otwithst(rrndl,t9, tlle Commltaee reviewed his s1,/,bmjsslo'a made oti That the fbor ol the House.

lt notes thqt (Ill the isstes tq.ised, therein uere conoersed ln the submlssions mqde W NW pq.rtg rnembers, the FDC delegation, (JPC represefltotioes qnd others.

The lssues hqae been exhaustiuelg examiaed in thls report.

Rt Ho,n.

Speq,ke\ the Comrnilrtze ltas atfiqched.

the submission bg the Leod.er o!

Opposition on the st@te o.f hum@a rights and.


human rtghts rud.olations on the Floor of the House in Anftex Six.

<li \ // Page 78 of 150 4.7 ALLEGED HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS BY R.DCS The Committee received allegations of human rights violations by Resident District Commissioners in various parts of the country.

It invited the Minister responsible for the Presidency to respond to these allegations.
The Minister presented to the Committee the policy position of the Presidency on matters pertaining to torture as well as the corrective action taken against fleld ofhcers/RDCs alleged to have committed acts of torture.

4.7.7 Policg position o.f the Presldeftcg on m:otters pettqining to toratre The Committee was informed observance ofthe law, respect and promotion of human rights is the guiding principle for the Presidency held staff.
This position is underpinned by the provisions ofthe Prevention ald Prohibition of Torture Act (2072) and guidance issued to all security organs by H.E.

the President on how to malage public gatherlngs, riots, curfew defaultrirs.

The Minister reported that H.E.


the President instructed all government agencies to observe and adhere to the law when arresting suspects a.nd detaining them The Minister informed the Committee that the President directed that any security ollicial involved in acts of torture should be held personally liable arld alswerable for his maleficence.

Further that these were aimed at illegal arrests, torture, mismanagement of sus weeding out rogue elements from the rarks of the .7.2 Remediql qctior.
toke,t agqinst RDCS oe co mmitled acts o.f torture The Minister stressed to the Committee that the Presidency does not condone torture.

As such, a]:ly field officer alleged to have committed such actions, is held personally accountable.

He presented the following cases to illustrate: l. Allegations of torture olgo:inst RDC Nole \': In August 2020, the then Kole RDC, Johana Omara Olweny aJlegedly beat up a matr who later died.
The RDC and his guards also allegedly assaulted arrd robbed Okot Janan, the Youth Councilor for Ojwina Division in Lira City, who unfortunately succumbed to the wounds on 10 August 2020.

The Committee was informed that the allegations made were true.
The Ofhce of the President received the complaint interdicted on Augost 29tu 2O2O t Mr Olwe ny '-fo= While he was reshuffled ( till on Interdiction, on 12 Jalruary 2021, appointe ent District Co d Resid l{jt- E ttre President sioners and their \ L of 150 g I I ri Deputies.

Mr. Olweny Omara was dropped as RDC and is no longer an employee of the Office of the President.

Mr. Olweny Omara was tried in the courts of law and on 15 December 2021, charges aBainst him were dismissed.

II.
II.

Allegqtions ol torture qgainst RDC Bulilsq The Committee received a complaint that ar Italian freelance journalist Ms Federica Mars and Mr Maxwell Atuhura a Ugandan humar rights defender working with African Institute for Energr Governarce were arbitrarily detained by the RDC of Buliisa.

The duo were purportedly interviewing communities affected by the Tilenga project developed by the French oil company TOTAL Energies.
They were taken to the Central Police Station in Bulisa without being told the reason of their arrest arld without charge.

The Buliisa CPS officers released Ms Federica Marsi was released shortly afterwards.

Mr Maxwell Atuhura was transferred to Hoima CPS for questioning.

lt is further alleged that the Police asked Mr Atuhura for awritten statement, asking him "why he was working against TOTAL with foreigners".
Maxwell Atuhura allegedly continued to receive threats and intirnidation by way of alonymous calls.

Both his homes in Kampala ald Buliisa were vandalized.

He filed a complaint at the Buliisa Police Station on 24 May 2021.

The Minister informed the Committee that this matter was never brought to the attention of the Ofhce of the President.

He further reported that this matter still under Police investigation Tre Commlttee obsefl)ed.
thqt the police inuesiigation into these serio allegations had drqgged lor an lnordln'qtelg loag period o.f time.

The Commitcee recomnends thqt the Presidencg aftd.

wD should.

rt bo.ck concrude these inaestigations withl\ a perlod oJ six months , tqke remediql qnd IIII.

Allegqtions o.f torture qgqinst the RDc Jtnjo.


The Committee received a complaint that on 24 Apr 2O2O the RDC Jinja, Mr Eric Sakwa in the company of one Mohamed afld Bumali Bazimbwewa tortured Mr Charles Isanga while implementing presidential guidelines on contain ing Ihe COVID-19 pandemic.

The Minister conhrmed Mr Eric Sakwa was duly appointed ald deployed in Jinja as RDC at the material time.
Upon d several ipt of this com t Page 80 of 150 GA.o I I '*&/t E d { others against him, he was interdicted on 4 May 2O2O.

He was airested and charged with manslaughter.

He appeaJed in court for trial On January 12th 2027, H.E.

the President dropped Mr Sa1<wa from the position of RDC.

He is no longer an employee of the Presidency.

ry AllegqtiotF of torture qgqinst RDC Na,mlslll,dutq.

Rt Hon.

Speaker, the Committee received a complaint against Mr Moses Kigai Wamoto, the RDC for Namisindwa.
It is alleged that he together with Mr David Twebanje the officer in charge of Namisindwa Central Police Station tortured 62-year old Lauben Wabomba, a resident of Namisindwa Town Council during the enforcement of COVID-l9 lockdown.

Mr Wabomba was illegally detained and it took the intervention of the Town Council LC3 Chairperson Mr Godfrey Bwayo to secure his release on police bond after being charged with assault.

Wabomba's case has drawn the attention of humal right's activists in the region.
The Minister reported to the Committee that this matter is still under police investigation and that the presidency had was unaware of this complaint until the Committee brought it to their attention.

He informed the Committee that H.E.

the President dropped Mr Moses Kigai Wamoto on March 23d 2022.

He is no longer aI employee of ttre Ofhce of the President.

The Committee recom,,?

:eftds thqt the ptesidencg o.nd.

WF should n and.

report back conclud,e these inuestigqtions, take tDithin o. period.
o.f sb(.
mo,rths I V, Allegations of torture @galnst the Kaba,le DC: The Committee received a complaint that between 3.d Apnl2O2O d 28rh May 2020, the RDC of Kabale tortured journalists Mr Rogers Asiimwe and Mr Bob i of Freedom Radio ald confiscated a mobile telephone belonging to Mr Richard Akandwa-naho, then ofVoice of Kigezi Mr Asiimwe in days leading up to his arrest had discussed the origin of Coronavirus in Wuhan, China ald lockdown measllres put in place by Ugandai Government to contain the spread ofCOVID-1g on his science arld technolog, radio show.
Mr Rumanzi a presenter and operations manager at freedom radio alleges that RDC Darius Nandida and a group of Police ofhcers kicked ard slapped him and shouted at him.

That the RDC alleged that he had had given government negative coverage.
He alleges that he suffere ut did nolseek medica.l treatment developed a headac r lnJurles s-r, s ,/ <a 5'- -rv L Page 81 of 150 WF The Minister reported that the OITice of the President had not received this complaint prior to it being raised by the Committee and that it is still under police investigation.

The Commiltee recommends that the presidencg o.nd.

wF should conclude these inaestigalions, tq.ke remediql qction aftd report bq,ck uithin q. period.

o!
o!

six months The Minister emphasised that RDCS and RCCS are responsible for monitoring ald supervision of Government programs in their jurisdictions.

They are not above the law arld the Presidency does not condone any acts of torture or lawlessness.

He encouraged Members of Parliarnent and the public to report errant RDCS/RCCs to the police and the presidency.

Th-e Cornmilrtee recommen,ds t tet RDCs shou ld desist fiom arresting qnd l/ltlmld.athg llsts toho host opposltlon polltlcal lead.ers.
fin (b U +P v Page 82 of 150 4.8 GOVERNMENT'S POSITION ON THE STATE OF HUMAN GHTS IN THE COUNTRY SINCE JANUARY 2O2O 4.8.7 s7abr,I:issio't bg the Altorfleg Generql Rt Hon.

Speater, the Committee received submissions from the A ey General on the state of humal rights and allegations of human rights violations in the country since Januarjr 2020.
The Attorney General stated that The National Objectives and Directive Principles of State Policy (V) and Chapter 4 of the Constitution clearly provide for the Protection ard Promotion of Fundarnental and Other Human Rights a.rld Freedoms.
He reported that Uganda has experienced progressive improvement in the protection arrd promotion of humal rights, challenges otwithstanding Assessment of the stqte of hutnan ight-s situation slnce January 2O2O to date he Attorney General submitted that it is govemment's mandate to empower its citizens in the enjoyment of their human rights, pelfolrnance of thelr obligations, duties and responsibilities.

That govemment executes this mardate through the Uganda Human Rights Commission.
UHRC carries out civic education and humal rights awareness promotion among the citizens of Ugarda.

Committee was informed that there has been success in the ultidimensional approach to building public awareness of humal rights through public debates and interactive media talk shows on human rights issues.
The sustained public awareness on human rights standards and citizen responsibilities had progressively grown over years from limited human rights mandated institutions of Government to a broad responsibility involving non state actors. )

II compens4tio't paid to t ictims of tortlrre and other human rlghts l,iolatlo,l,s The Committee was informed that payment of compensations and awards in respect of human rights violations is subject to availability of funds.
The Attorney General receives orders arrd awards of compensation from UHRC'S Tribunal arrd the Courts of Judicature.

[n some instarces, the Attorney General makes a determination that compensation is appropriate.

The Attorney General informed the Committee that since FY2OI5/2O16, payment of compens n and awal'ds was decentralised chambers L Page 83 of 150 $ F}, { are currently developing a on payment of compensations by the various MDAS periodica-lly.
sm for tracking and collecting information Claims for compensation for the period before the decentralisation to MDAS in FY2O15/2O16 have largely been settled.

Some outstanding claims are in respect of benehciaries who cannot be traced.

The chambers have run advertisements in the media to trace them.

Other outstanding claims are in respect of cases where the regional offrces have not forwarded the same to Attorney-General's Charnbers.
To mitigate this, the charnbers have instituted measures to ensure that all approved matters are forwarded within the next 90 days.

UI Periodic Reporting Rt Hon.

Speaker, the Atto.ney General reported that the Govemment submitted to the United Nations Universal Periodic Review Reporting mechanism in October 2021 ar,d Uganda successfully underwent the third cycle of review.

Government considered the recommendations from the review.
The Attomey General further reported that the State Report in respect to the Convention Against Torture (UN-CAT) was flnalised and submitted to the relevant Committee; satisfying the State obligation.

He stated that Government, through the Inter Ministerial Committee on Human Rights, commenced the preparation of the State report on Economic, Social arld Cultural Rights.

It is expected to be sub approval before year close of cal to Cabinet v Iv.
The Jqnuqry 2027 Elections The Attorrey Genera] submitted that n Jan.uary 2021, Ugalda success held national elections; a major exercise of civic rights by Ugarldarrs.

The UHRC enhanced civic education through the media and dissemination of ICT matedals.

This was complemented by the Electoral Commission and CSOS.

He acknowledged that the national election season was constrained by the COVID-l9 pandemic which Limited the extent of physical association and citizen engagement.
He added that the Uganda Police Force played a critica.l role in demobilising illegal political gatherings and enforcement of COVID-l9 prevention SOPS, which resulted in various skirmishes.

The Attorney General asserted that overall, the national election day was relatively peaceful and during the entire election season , the UHRC registered only 22 human righls complaints d )\ L age 84 of 15O s I I I I I I I I I t I I I I I I I I I I V. Alleged.

tiolations: The O riots Rt Hon.


Speaker, the Attorney General submitted that the contestation in enforcement of COVID 19 SOPS climaxed on 18 November 2020, as riots spurred by the arrest of the National Unity Platform Presidential Candidate, Hon.

Robert Kyagula-nyi Ssentarnu, while campaigning in Kiy.unga Trading Centre, Luuka District.

He reported that these riots and demonstrations occurred in Kampala, Watiso, Mukono, Mityana and Masaka; resulting into 56 deaLhs and a-rresl oI -t,088 suspects.
He noted that the clashes between the civilians and the security agencies resulted into human rights violations, including deaths of civilials: injuries from stray bullets aIId allegations of torture.
He reported that there were attacks on police personnel by civilials; citing the case ofASP Justine Kasule, a female police oflicer who was chased and hit on the head with a stone and a hammer The Attomey General reported that a total of 286 cases involving riotous situation were registered by the police between 1Sth a-nd 20th November,2O2O.

After screening, l9a (69.2%) were taken to court, out oI which, 66 (33.3%) convictions were secured.
Fifty (50) cases representing 25.2yo were dismissed while 82 l41.4yo) are still ongoing.

He added that 80 cases are still under inquiry, while 8 cases were closed and put away by the Ofnce of the Director of Public Prosecutions.

The Attorney General cla-rilied that some of the cases that were dismissed by court were for want of prosecution as a result of the - accused persons jumping bail.
Two cases were taken over by the military, , where two LDU personnel shot and killed three people in two different incidences.

Rt Hon.
Rt Hon.

Speaker, the Committee was informed that UHRC registered arld investigated 23 complaints involving the alleged violation of the right to life (11); the right to security of person involving people who were injured as a uIt of bullets ard tear gas canisters, (6); the right to f.eedom from torture, el, inhuman and degrading treatment or punishment, (2); the right to personal liberty, (3); and the right to property {1).
The Attomey Genera.l informed the Committee that government emba.rked on the compensation ofthe victims.

However, some ofthe farnilies opted to obtain redress through court and Government is looking into these cases with a view to having them appropriately resolved.

The Government remains committed in these unfortunate events is to ensure that every life that was investigated and ac "l;w, €.
Page 85 of 15O ted that deflance by some political leaders to The Attorne-v General as observe COVID-19 measures directly caused these riots.

In a display of impunity, the politicians repeatedly stoked fear and incited violence that culminated into the deadly riots of November,2O2O w}llc}l were a danger to the security and stability of the country and its citizens VI.

Alleged.
Alleged.

shrinking oJ clvlc space The Attorney General submitted that the Government of the Republic of Uganda recognises the critical role played by NGOs in the advancement of democracy.

He hastened to add that all NGOs registered in Uganda are expected to comply with the law.

He stated that Ugarda, like many other countries, has a comprehensive regulatory framework for the NGO sector, which provides legal obligations that all NGOS operating in the country must comply with.
These include; possession of a certihcate of incorporation, certificate ofregistration, a valid NGO permit, and filing ofannual returns arld audited books of accounts to the NGO Bureau and others.

He reported that non-complaint NGOS were given the opportunity to be heard by the NGO bureau- Over 25 NGOS took the opportunity to lve their issues while pted to seek redress in the courts of law so vII.

Torture Rt Hon.

Speaker, the Attorney Genera] emphasised that vernment does not done any form of torture.
He reiterated H.E the President's public pronouncements made in this regard.

The Committee was informed that t is actively conducting investigations into allegations of torture o with a view to bringing the perpetrators to book and that there is good from the highest office to eradicate this menace.
V[I. trllec,sures to q.d.dress hwman ights utolqtlo'ts bg th.e Governtnent The Committee was informed that the security a-nd governance sector (formerly, JLOS) undertook strategic interventions to strengthen measures to reduce human rights violations.

These measures, among others include; { I the establishment of functional human rights structures at all s points to facilitate the enforcement of the existing legal ard policy frameworks.
enhancement of staif capacity to be responsive to human rights mat and embrace the humal rights-based approach at the service points.

This is particularly helptul in light of the persistent attribution of human rights violations to security p 86 of 150 MoJCA is in the process of drafting the National Action Plan (NAP) on Human Rights for consideration by Cabinet Secretariat.
The National Action Plan on Human Rights is a key policy document which embodies the govemment's commitments to the protection ald promotion of human rights, outlining clear goals ald describing strategies to be used in achieving the set targets a-rld defining clearly stipulated time bound indicators.

The draJt NAP is undergoing review to align it with the National Development Plan III and to consider input of some of the recommendations, arising from the 3rd cycle of Universal Periodic Review.
It is hoped that the National Action Plan on Human Rights will be a guiding document in the enforcement of human rights, ald ultimately the reduction of human rights violations.

( /' f,r- S \u" \ ,g Page 87 of 150 4.8.2 Tlre Ugarda Prisons Service Submlssion oa Cases of Torture The Uganda Prisons Service (UPS) made submissions to the Committee on a number of occasions throughout this inquiry.

Their submissions in response to speciflc questions are reflected under the relevalt heads.
A summarJr of the general submissions is captured below: The Uganda Prisons Service informed the Committee that it operates 259 Prison facilities grouped in 16 regions across the country, with prisoner population of about 67,532 as at March 2022, against a holding capaciry of 19,986.

Out of the 67,532 piisoners, 31,928 arc convicts; 35,402 on remand whlTe 2O2 are debtors.
The Ugalda Prisons Service further informed the Committee that it has a stalf strength of 12,701 of whom 10,219 were uniformed, 2,030 are uniformed junior trainees while 452 aie noo-uniformed stafi Another 2O0 cadets had been admitted to the Prisons training school in Marc}r 2022.

The Committee was informed that some prison facilities were housing above five times of their designed holding capacities as shown in the Table below.
SN Prison Capacity Population No, of times 1 2 Bushenyi (M) Mbarara (M) Masindi (M) Kiruhura Lira (M) Rukungiri Ndorwa (M) Kakiika Fort Portal (M) Kitgum Bushenyi (W) 11 12 Masaka Ssaza 13 Upper Prison 186 262 42 12l 88 105 116 309 61 36 5a 756 1,5 51 2,514 2,!75 347 800 549 669 785 1,849 365 345 2,705 above caPacltY 8.3 8.3 8.3 8.3 6.6 6.2 6.4 6.8 6.0 6.0 6.3 59 ,l\ 5T---7lL Occupancy l%t 833.9 a29 -7 a30.2 426.2 661 .2 623.9 637 .1 676.7 598.4 598.4 625.O 594.8 357.8 Rt Hon.
Speaker, the Uganda Prisons service reported challenges of a high remard population and lengthy remand periods; very long terms of g use of the death penalty, inadequate lmprlsonmen resources.

t because of Page 88 of 150 b q +9.

l. Actio,a taken bg the Ugqndq Prisons Ser,tice to mitigate torture.

UPS concurred with other govemment entities that arly person who tortures another commits an offence and is criminally liable.
It informed the Committee that in the period under review, it did not record any cases of torture perpetuated by its stalL The Serwice reported having recorded isolated incidents of other human rights violations perpetuated by staff and that action had been taken against the offending officers.

UPS reported that the following actions were taken to promote altd protect human rights: 1 11 111 Over 957o of the prisons staff underwent humal rights training.
It was further asserted that human rights is one of the basic modules at the Prisons Academy and Training School.

Human rights committees for staff and prisoners have been established in all the prisons to monitor human rights observance, awareness and adherence to human rights standards Ugalda Prisons Service has a department of lnspectorate and quality assuralce that ensures that the rights of prisoners are observed.
In addition, a lega1 arld human Prisons Headq activities in the prisons ts department was established at \.

ald coordinate all human rights ./ r An independent oversight chalism known as Visiting Justices carries out monitoring and inspection visits to assess the prison living and working conditions vis a-vis international, regiona-I and national human rights instruments and staldards II.

Isolated ilncide,fts oJ humo,ln right-s uiolqtions perpetrqted.
bg stall qnd the q.ctlon taken During the period under review, the Committee was informed that the Prisons Service did not record any internal cases of torture.

The Uganda Pdsons Service, however, reported that there had been isolated incidents of humal rights violations perpetuated by stalf but disciplinary action had been tal<en against them as shown in the table below.

SN DlEcipllnary Offences of Action Taken No.


casea }lFj- ( -t Page 89 of 150 +p 1) Assault of a Prisoner 2) Discreditable conduct 3) Oppressive conduct 4) Neglect of Duty s) Unlawful Exercise of Authority 6) Withdrawal from dutv 1 2 1 1 1 Suspended sentence of discharge for 12 months Fines Stern wamir.g Discharge U.B.E and Fines Fine ard stern waJning Fine lA IIII.
Prisoners renanded into the custodg with injuries The Committee tasked the Uganda Prisons Service to avail details of the prisoners who had been admitted with injuries during the period under review.

They were also required to avail the causes of the injuries given by the prisoners at the time of admission.

Rt.

Hon.

Speaker, UPS provided a list of 94 prisoners (see Iist below) in their custody who had been admitted with various injuries.
From the detail provided, the Committee observed that the majority ofinjuries are bruises, wounds ar-rd broken limbs.

The Committee noted a worrying culture of torture and mob justice.

The Committee is concerned that this orture is meted out as a means of eithe.
extracting information or punishing suspects by both state and non-state actors Prisonera admitted to into the prlsons sereice with iajuries, SN StatioD 1) Mbarara 2l Kyegegwa of Name Prlsoner Kajoomu Mustafa Alias Jaja Mwanga Moses Talemwa Tadius Court Ibalda Kyegegwa E 3) 4l Kyomuhendo Charles Mukonyezi Edward Kyegegwa Kyegegwa L!--+\ /,?
0A/-' of Nature InJuries Date Admlsslon 13 /07 /2022 Marks on back and legs of 10 /02 / 2022 Tried to jump off a motor cycle on arrest and sustained injuries t8/ t|l2o2t Complications in the waist 23102 /2022 Swollen knee Page 90 of 150 J Vq) ( €P, I I I I I I I !

I I I I t I t !
t I I t w Kyegegwa 2310212022 Swollen hand Kabale Court Kabale G 1 Bugembe Nakifuma CM 21/02 /2022 Big cut on left pal- 07 /01/2022 Wound on left I"g 08 /0212022 Wounds on face ald legs Tumwijukye Obed Atuhaire Brian Ndorwa Bugembe Nakifuma Ntambirweki Barnabas Ngobi Eric B Mpaata Anthony 5) 6) 7J 8) e) ) 10) Byaruhanga Awali Nakifuma 20 lOt /2022 Fresh wounds/cut on the head ard swollen legs 1.4 /01 /2022 Recurrent septic wound on the head arrd swollen 77 /O2 /2022 Compound fracture on the upper left arm \a /02 /2022 Head injuries 79 I 11 /2021 Broken right hand 70 /02 /2022 Chest pain ( 02l02 /2022 Bruises on th{ chest, back\ ald right arm- 02 /0212022 Bruises on the back, dght leg ald both AITNS 03 /02 /2022 Bruises on the teft 1"9, hands, back and head Page 91 of 15O S. 11) Butaleja Ongido Robert Pa.llisa Prison t2) Kapchorwa Mayiyi Akim Kitalya M Max Prison Kamya Godfrey Declucker Kasoro Robert Musaljalumbwa Osipira Emrnaluel Kapchorwa CM Court LDC Luweero Wakiso Musinguzi Isma Matindye Mato\,u Ali Luweero A 13) 14) 1s) 16) 17], b f) g-.1 Ers 18) 1e) 20) 21) 22) 23) 24) 2s) 26) 271 281 2e) 30) 31) €P Kiira 21/01/2022 Complained of Ekwalg Stephen Kato Paul Buganda Road City Hall 291O1/2022 Chest pain Kal<ande Muslin Magino Hassan Nakasongola Buganda Road Tindyebwa Kasajja David Wasikundi Isaac Mukono Lumbuye Musa Kiira Wamala Abdulakim Katwenza Rukirabashaija City Hall Buganda Road Pa,llaso Wilson Kajjan si Olombi Vicent LDC 04 / 02 /2022 Wounds on the knees ald left ribs 04 /02 /2022 Bruises on the rieht thigh 28 /01/2022 Complained of chest pain chest pain 26107 /2022 Bruises on the left arm and the back 21/01 12022 Bruises on the right leg and left leg 29 / Ot 12022 Complained of chest pain 711o112022 Stroke marks on the back, buttocks, left arm, thighs ald swollen legs 28 /01/2022 Bruises on the right hand, left hip arrd on the head 10 / lt /2021 Bruises on the right hand, left hip and on the head Ssekago Difa Nakasongola 16112/2021 Complained of Muwonge Muhamrned -Kabugo Vicent Nyimbwa Nakaseke N / chest pain 16/1212021 Bruises on the right hip ( )frr v/ 01 12022 Bruises on the left teg and right eye Page 92 of 150 T I I I I I !
32J 33) 34) 35) 36) 38) 3e) 4 41) 42) 43) 44) 45) 46) 47) rl T) F(r- 13101 /2022 Bruises on the right arm and the right artkle 2l lOt /2022 Swollen testicles with wounds 06lol /2022 Stroke marks 06lol 12022 on the back Stroke maiks on the back, arms ald left hngers 07 /o112022 Complained of chest pains 07 lot 12022 Complained of chest pains Kalule Asuman Luweero Matindye Luweero Mpigi Kiira Busunju Otyanga Michael Ka!.uma Hamidu Ssempijja Meddie Omutontaseke Arafah Ssegawa Michael Ssemawanda Robert Ayebazibwe Kasim Rukundo Maxwel Ki\,nmbi Joseph Nateete/Rubaga 07 /ot /2022 Complained of chest pains GCM Makindye Nakaseke 13 /12/2021 Marks on the right thigh 23/12/2021.
Complained of Kiira Road 02/72/2021 chest pain Marks on the left leg and right hand Kayondo Tony Nsargi Tkesi5re Dal Buganda road Nabweru Ssentongo Edward Ampuriire Ronald Wasswa Ashraf Bujuuko Nataseke Kasujja Ronald Buganda Road A 06lol /2021 Complained of chest pain 231 12 /2o2t Complained of chest pain 07 /06/2O2r Complained of chest pain 23 / 1212021.

Complained of chest pain 10 /01.
/2022 Bruises on the left leg 12 /02 /2o2 /Stroke marks on the forehead andl the back \ Page 93 of 150 S @= til / 48) 49) s0) s 1) s2) 53) s4) ss) s6) s7l s8) se) 60) aT -Mayalja Isma Luweero 76 /07 12021 Bruises on the back Mugisha Willy Buganda Road t6l t2l2o2t Bruises on the Ochar Sadick Nakaseke Matayo Yiga Matuga Lubega Raymond Kasar)gati Ayoo Patrick Luzira Luswata Isaac Wakiso Ssentongo Ronald Buganda road Waana Vicent LDC back 7611212021 Bruises on the back artd a broken left arm 06 /01/2022 Bruises on the hands 06/01/2022 Bruises at the back and the left hand side 18/02 /2021 Stroke marks on the back and the head Wounds the knees 20 / 12 12027 on 08 /ot /2022 Bmises on the left hard side and fingers 281 12 12021 Injury on the head Agabi Nobert Nabweru 10/01/2022 Bruises on the Kazoora Meddie Nakawa Semakula Jamir Makindye Kisemtlo Christopher Asiimwe Arthur Kiira Nataseke right leg 17 /o312021 Bruises on the left arm 30/12/2021 Bruises on the back and left hard side 06 /01, /2022 Stroke marks on the back t7 I 12 /2021 Bmises on the left arm, eye, chest ard left 1"g Kitgum 62) 63) Opoka Charles _trarejea Robert Kitgum Kitgum 16 /03 /2021 Chest pain 03l02l2021 {' S. c\ /l/Y Hearing in the ear loss right 94 of 15O @- I I I T t I T I I I I t !
I I I I I I Rukungiri 64) 6s) 66\ 67) I 68) I Okonya Patrick Kitgum Ninsiima Barbara Natukunda Juliet Mutesa Daniel Rukungiri CM Court Rukungiri CM Court Rukungiri Court CM Ainehvona Idan Rukungiri Court 6e) Tororo Etyang Fautine 70) Ochi Robert Tororo Court Tororo Court 71) Obbo Francis Tororo Court CM 72) Sarde Richard Tororo Court CM n a F,3 W* 06lol /2022 Chest pain 21 lO7 / 2021 Wounds the body Wounds the body + z on 21 l07 12021 20 /01/2022 Deep wound on the leg CM 13/07 /2022 Beaten by villagers and sustained wound on the back (mob justice) CM os/17 /2021 Accident wounds CM 22 /02 /2022 Has amputated right hand below the elbow 23 /02 /2022 Has severa.l colloids on chest, visible multiple ma.rks and stripes of canes on the back 1A /02 /2022 Has several bruises on the back, deep cuts on the upper lip alld left pa1m, swollen rig'+-t legs around ankle, giant colloids on the right elbow and chest .t 95 of 150 4L )' M 73) Kakiika 7+) Kasangati 75) 76) 771 I J Sihyondo Hamidu Omedwa Richard Odong Charles Mbarara Magistrate Court Bugarda Road Bugarda Road Ssebgabo Sam City Hall Majjid Meddi City Hall 78) Upper Prison Walega Tonny alias Lubowa City Hall 7g\ 80) 81) Serubula Hussein Ismael alias Imamu Muto Kagugube Muhanmad alias Musiramu Natawa Na-kawa Walusimbi Kamada a-lias Mudinka Nakawa I q €' 31101/2022 Wound on his left ear 76 / 06l2O2O Swollen back aJId buttocks t6 /06 /2O2O Swollen back and buttocks 27 /O7 /2O2O Wounds on legs and arms on ald on 19 l06l2O2O Marks arms swelling face 02 /01l2o2o Fresh wounds all over his face, on his head and at the back ald on the arms 2a l06 /2021 Swollen back, fresh scars on his hands, broken teeth in upper jaw 08 /07 12021 Fresh scars at the back, Beneral body pains in the chest claiming he was beaten up 08l07 l2o2r Fresh scars aII over the body claiming he was beaten up.
Complains of general body pains 0l Page 96 of 150 I I I I I t I I I I t t t I I t I I I t I 82) 83) 841 8s) 86) 87) 88) 8e) Kisamtrira Sirimar alias Mukwasi Nakawa Abd.ulazlz Ramathan Dunku Nakawa Habib Rarnathan MarjaI Nakawa Onyalgo James Nakawa Nakawa Turinawe Rarnathan Elingete Samuel Oundo Starley Nakawa GCM Mwardha Charles a GCM o \\^^ oa/07 /2021 Fresh scars all over the body claiming he was beaten up.
Complains of general body pains oa l07 /2021 Fresh scais all over the body claiming he was beaten up.

Complains of general body pains oa/07 /2021 Fresh scars all oyer the body claiming he was beaten up.

Complains of general body pains o8 /07 /2021 Fresh scars on the arms and on the back 2t /ot /2o2o Fresh scars on his back 21/02/2O2O Fresh scars on his back 06 /03 /2O2o Fresh scars on the head ald on his body Fresh scElrs on his shoulders.

lt /03 /2O2O \ n,.--., tt -,/ UUL----.


97 of 150 6t,5 77 /o412018 Fresh scars on his face 70 /ot /2022 Wound on the buttocks 10 /Ot /2022 Wounds on the buttocks to /01/2022 Wounds on the forehead and left knee L5/ 7212021 He was admitted with a fresh.
big wound on the right arm (burnt by villagers) eo) e1) e2) e3) Mukiibi Paul Nabweru GCM Ssenyonga Bob Robert Lugendo Stuart Savio Masembe John GCM GCM 94) Kamwenge M\ .iza Anacklet Karnwenrye / v de--------" €P Page 98 of 150 IV "Kdtikiros" from 2O2O to 2022: ,eq.ders Rt Hon.

Speaker, the Uganda Prisons Service supplied the committee with table below showing action taken to address Human rights violations by prisoner leaders "Katikiros" during the period under review.

/sN 7 Prisoner Name No.
and Prison Unit Masafu I MSU O24 /2019 ZilIroto Alias Mrefu 2 MSU David 180/2018 Talo MasaJu 3 MSU O14 /2019 Masafu Mulalgo Ramadhan .A KTAPC Os9/2O 1s Mugume Vincent Kitalya (Farm) 5 KTAPC 19O /2Ot7 Ahimbisibwe Joel Kita-lya (Farm) 6 KTAPC O65l2O1a Lukwago Simon Kitalya (Farm) Offence Participated in beating of MSU 108/2019 Ochieng Stephen that resulted in his death PaJticipated in beating of MSU 108/ 2019 Ochieng Stephen that resulted in his death Participated in beating of MSU 1O8/ 20 19 Ochieng Stephen that resulted in his death Beat prisoner deployed Kahikiro Shamba Beat prisoner deployed Katikiro Shamba Beat prisoner deployed Katikiro Sharnba fellow while asa in main asa in main asa in main fellow while fellow while Action Taken Charged with murder Charged with murder Charged with murder Withdrawn from leadership and cautioned Warned { Withdrawn from leadership Page 99 of 150 St. 7 KTAPC ',080/2018 Akibar Ali Kitalya (Farm) 8 KTAPC 066/2016 Bahati John Kitalya (Farm) 9 oRT 2O3/2O19 Watenga Robe.t Orom Tikao 10 ORT 23312019 Okeny Emmanuel Orom Tikao 11 LGR 058/2015 Ndema Lugore Yonah 12 LGR 264 /2O2O Okello Lugore Benson Beat fellow prisoner while deployed as a Katikiro in main Shamba Beat fellow prisoner while deployed as a Katikiro in main Sharnba Caling fellow p.isoner No.
ORT 167 /2019 Warwaku Pascal Caning fellow prisoner No.

ORT 269/2019 Ebau George Assaulted prisoner No.

LGR 20112020 Watala David and he sustained minor injuries Carred prisoner No.

LGR 1O4 /2019 Okurut Joseph 13 TR 962lr>19 Oburu Tororo Peter l4 TR 450/2017 Mugabi Tororo Robert Assaulted prisoner No.

163/2O1a Olowo Peter Assaulted prisoner No.


34O/2Or9 Mukwana Peter Cautioned aId apologised to victim Serious waming aId apoiogised to victim Withdrawn from leadership Awarded 14 days loss of remissiorr days of 7 days loss of remission and withdrawn from leadership 10 loss remission and withdrawll from leadership 3 days in isolation cell.

7 days in isolation cell.


JJr Page 10O of 150 ,'€ I I I I I I I I t I I I I I I I I t I I \ ) $ 15 TR 67712018 Ochieng Tororo Richard 16 TR 555/2019 Efumbi Tororo Jackson 17 RUI Ssekunya Shafik 24212O2O Ssemakula Ruimi 18 RUr 115/2017 Ruimi Mugisha Bonny 19 RUI 062 /2017 Ruimi Bvamukarna Moses 20 RUI 370/2018 Milton Ruimi Musasizi 21 RUr OO5|2O19 Ruimi Beinomugisha Ival 4lllP-" AssaulteYprisoner No.

1060/2020 Obwana Andrew Assaulted prisoner No.

3O9l2o2O Masete Jimmv Hit Prisoner No.


252 /2O2O Byesero James in the face with the flst Fought prisoner No.

OO9 /2O2O Masereka Shadrack and tore his uniform Assaulted prisoner No.

465/2019 Muhindo Yunus while working in main shamba Assaulted prisoner No.

534 /2019 Akankwasa Yonah Mayeye while in the kitchen Assaulted Prisoner No.

31112020 Kibonge Ivan while working in main shamba days of 3 days in isolation ce1l.

5 days in isolation ce1l.


7 days loss of remission and withdrawn from leadership 14 loss remission ald withdrawn from leadership 7 days loss of remission and withdrawn from leadership 10 loss remission and withdrawn from leadership 10 loss remission and withdrawn L\ days of days of 0 1 s4 22 RUI 0791 2017 Mukuya Ruimi God RUr Mugume Robert 41812018 Ruimi '4/ Assaulted prisoner No.

154 /2O2O Kintu Alex while working in the kitchen store Assaulted prisoner No.
765/2020 Kaggwa John while working in the main shamba days of from leadership 10 loss remission ald withdrawn from leadership 10 days loss of remission ald withdrawn from leadership v Actlon taken on humqn right-s cases foflDarded to the II?S lrom the Ugqndq Hur'I,q,'t Rights Conmission The Comrnittee, trarsmitted a list of 13 cases received from the Ugalda Human Rights Commission to the Uganda Prisoos Service and required the UPS to submit arl update on the status of alleged torture complaints to establish what action had been taken to address the cases.
UPS supplied a table of below: d cases including status updates as shown Status update of allege Human Rights Commission from January 2O2O to Ja'ru,aty 2022 torture complaints registered at the Ugaada SN Complaint Partles Status according to UHRC Update on status of Actioa by UPs No.

(Victim) 1 cTRl02 /2O2 1 (Okello Raphael) $ €2 Okello Raphael and Ugarrda Investigati ons ongoing a Prisons staff who claimed to have been tortured/assaulted during tra.ining.
Page 102 of 150 I 7 ?7 2 -t) I I I t I I I I I I I I I n \ I I I I Prisons Service Opolot Peter ard Moroto Government Prison Investigati ons ongomg L, t- €,.J TA€J Service received a notice of intention to sue ald a response was made.

The incidence referred to as assault in his complaint was not assault but could be termed as accident because he fell down as he was running towards the prarade ground ald fellow tra.inees run over him.

The case is currently before courts of law.


The Officer in charge of Moroto Prison provided a response to the UHRC Moroto Office on 31't Ja]r]uary 2O2O.

Key to note is that the allegations of torture were hled by a male prisoner against a female stalf (Assistant Matron NaJuna Josephine) The Prisons rules and regulations do not allow the deployment of female officers within a male prison without the presence of a ma-le officer.
Al1 the time, the accused worked at the quarantine centre, she was under the supervision of a male officer, Corporal Warder Sam Okwi.

Page 103 of 150 ( -,='' a 3 GLU /05/2O2 1 (Abigaba Hannington) _r Investigati ons ongomg Abigaba Hannington ard Uganda Government Prison Lotuturu e ) L / f While carl/ing out searches, male inmates are STRICTLY searched by male oflicers and not female officers .

No.
No.

16615 Warder Abigaba Hannington was posted to Lotuturu Prison on 17th J:uly 2O2O after completion of training at Prisons Academy and Training School During his stay at Lotuturu Prison, he exhibited gross indiscipline ald discreditable conduct including absenteeism from duty on several occasions, assault of fellow stalf a]1d insulting of supervisors, malingering and being a public nuisance the community.
in On 03 /O1/2027 he falsely communicated to the District Police Commalder Lamwo about the mass escape at l,otuturu Prison.

effect He subsequently absconded from duty arld was declared a deserter with from 77 l02 /2021.

-D-uring alt this while, no torture allegations were meted on the Warder Page 104 of 150 I I I I I I t ,.

I !

I I I I I I I i I I I t v r I I It I I I I I !


I I I I I 4 GLU /38 /2O2 1 (Lamunu Margret) lnvestigati ons ongomg Lamunu MaJgret and Ugarrda Government Prison, Pece 5 GLU / 13 /2O2 o (okidi Geoffrey) lnvestigati ons ongoing okidi Geoffrey and Uganda Government Prison, Patongo -{l 6 GLU /36 /2O2 0 (Amoding Harriet) J Amoding Harriet and SSP Mucunguzi Emmanuel Case concluded /) ffi Y/ 7 Uganda Government Prison, Pece, is a purely male prison ard it does not admit female prisoners.
When Lamunu Margret was contacted usirrg the telephone number provided by the UHRC, she confirmed that she has never been in Prison.

UPS has never admitted the said complainant into custody and no complaint has ever been received from UHRC in that respect.

He escaped from lawful custody at Patongo prison.

He was recaptured on 2o/o1l2o2o arld sentenced to 1,095 days' imprisonment.

He was thereafter transferred to Gulu Main Prison.

No complaint has ever been received from UHRC in that respect.
There was a confrontation between SSP Muchunguzi Emmanuel and Assistant Matron Amoding Ha-rriet emanating from traffi cking with prisoners.

Harriet was belligerent to the Officer in charge prompting Page 105 of 150 I \) !a-9 D-- ----v1- ) ) I s 0^ J / 7 GLU /21 /2O2 1 (Adar Rubby) Investigati ons ongoing Adar Rubby Vz.

Uganda Government Prison, Alebtong confrontation from the OC by slapping her.

The victim was given a compensation oI Shs.

1,0O0,000 and the case was concluded.


UPS provided a response to U}IRC o11 22 I 1O /2021.

The Prisoner was admitted into the p.ison on 6e May 2021 ar:^d grarted bail on 10th May 2021.

He stayed in Prison for 4 days.

During the period of his stay, no torture complaint was registered in respect of this prisoner.

Even in the Prisons medical records, his name does not appear though he alleged that he got treatment from the prison facility.
8 JJA/t6/20 (Fulafu Daliel) FulaJu Daniel Vz Morokatipe Prison Investigati ons ongolng The alleged victim was on 12th Jrne 2O2O admitted to Tororo Prison, Morokatipe.

After preliminary medical exanination at Doctor's Plaza Medical Centre with Jeference of Orthopedic $urgeons from Tororo /Gene.al Hospital on 2nd July 2O2O, he was found to be a minor of 17 years.

On lom August 2020, UPS recglned a release order \ of 150 1 ( I I I !
t I I t I I I I I I .Sq, C I I I I T t I I I I I t I I I t I I I I I I 9 JJA/03l2t (Kalaire Charles) Kal<aire Charles Kaliro Prison vz Investigati ons ongoing - I\l\]r''^.l \rtiich was immediately.

effected is no registered complaint at the There torture station The UPS provided response to the UHRC.

a The compiainant was trarsferred to Kaliro Prison on 1gth September 20 19 from Iganga Prison.
He was appointed as inmate leader but later stripped of that responsibilif on account of misconduct towards his fellow inmates.

He was then appointed as a cook.

He was who on caused inmates of the became officers.

a chaotic inmate severa,l occasions infighting among even in the middle night.

He then violent to all He was then isolated from other inmates for 3 weeks as a deterrent measure.
He was released from custody on 24109 /2O2O- ln all this, no torture of whatever nature was ever meted on h Fr_ { 107 of 150 10 JJA/te /20 (Namuloodi Saadi) Namuloodi Saadi Vz Maluge Prison lnvestigati ons ongoing UHRC is yet to pronounce itself on the response from UPS.

Namuloodi was admitted or,17 /O712O19 as a remand pdsoner at Uganda Government Prison Ikulwe in May-uge district on cha-rges of theft of a phone.
He was sentenced on 06/1\/2019 to one year imprisonment and released on1,7 /O7 /2O2O after completion of his sentence.

During his term, no complaints of whatever nature were received.

On 07 /O4/2021, three UHRC Jrnja bralch reported at the Prison to conduct a field investigation into torture allegations on Namuloodi Saadi.

No response or feedback has ever been received from UHRC Godfrey was admitted to Ugalda Government Prison, Bukulula on 26/02/2020 as a remand prisoner.
Investigati ons ongomg 11 MSK/01s/20 20 (Katerega Godfrey) Katerega Godfrey Vz.

OC Bukulula Government Prison \ CL l x C / On admission, he had a big fresh wound on the buttocks.

He complained that he was beaten during arrest.

His trousers had Page 108 of 150 i w r) I I I I I I !

I !

I I I I I I I t I I I p: 72 ARU los /2O2 1 (Fauza Ismail) Investigati ons ongorng Fauza Ismail Vz.
Principal Officers Okalia Joseph ard Kasakibal<i Godfrey and Ugarda Government Prison, Arua blood stains was treated from Prisons Clinic He was sentence to caution on O5/O3/2O2O and subsequently released from custody.

However he had not fully healed at the time of release.

No complaint has ever been received from UHRC.

However, below are some facts about the inmate.

He was transfeffed from Murchison Bay Prison on 03 /8l2ol7 to Arua Prison.
He received treatment from Murchison Bay Hospital and was later transferred to Arua Prison after the first set of treatment.

He was transferred from Arua to Adjumani prison on 09 /al2O1A.

He was later transferred from Adjumani back to Murchison Bay Prison for Iurther medication.
Laboratory tests conducted from Lacent Laboratories conhrmed a Low Grade Fibrosarcoma (calcer of the left thigh) The arnputation of the left ldwer limb (above the knee) \ Page 1O9 of 150 -l _f 13 cTR/42 /2O2 o (Alijamana Dede) Alijalnarla Dede and Kitalya Prison Investigati ons concluded was conducted Mulago Hospital 17 /o7 l2O2O.

from on The said person has never been admitted to Kitalya Prison and he is not in the Prisons data base Also, no complaint has ever been received from UHRC in that respect VI.
Compensations bg the Uganda Prisoas Senice The Uganda Prisons Service informed the Committee that it had received eight (8) orders for compensation from the Uganda Human zughts Commission between 20O5 and 2018 arld that it was in the process of paying four (4) awards, whose bank accounts had been provided to the Uganda Prisons Service.

The Uganda Prisons Service further informed the Committee that when prisoners get injured while on employment during incarceration the Worker's Compensation Act applies.
The injured prisoners are compensated with the guidalce of the Ministry of Gender, Labour ald Social Development.

The Commil*ee cornmends the Ugandq Prisons Seflrice Jor cooperation and diligence urith which theg respond.ed.

lo C o mmilrtE e's in,quire s. their the b The Commlttee also commend,s the Vgqndq Prisons S'erzice for aerilaqble oction taken to address c@ses o.f humq hts violqtions q,n,d punlsh otlenders.

The Committee recommends t tat: i. n should.

be sugorted.

to the Vgq.nd.o.


Ilumo,,a Rlghts conduct massive ciulc educatlon qnd se'tsltisq,tio'a across the country to lag a Jound.ation tor q culture of respect for huntan rlghts and.

creatc awq.re'ress o.f rights qnd obligqtlons.

ii, qrl Ugand.a'ls should be trained in their status, gend.er, age @nd be (- \ E t +i, / rights regardless o.f to put qa ead h/fs Page 110 of 150 I t 1 ru, 'f) to mob justice bg the ''[asses @nd torture bg la.w enlorceotent qnd se c-uritg op e ratitte s, iii.
All "Kotikiros" shollld be given basic humqn rtghts training bejore theg are assigned the position.

4.8.3 Ministry of ForeQn Aflo,irs: Uganda's tnternational lruman ights reporting obligations The Committee received submissions from the Minister of Foreign Affairs.

The Minister informed the Committee that cabinet by a decision of 6th July 2011 designated the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as the coordinating entity for matters of human rights related to International Treaties and Conventions.
He reported that the ministry is tasked to submit the required rep good time to Cabinet for discussion and endorsement ln Minister submitted that since Jaluarv 2020 that 1 Uganda has to report to ten Treaty Bodies at the United two at the African Union as well as submit to the Universal Periodic , Review Mechalism (UPRM) at least once every four years ations and ,/ ii.
Uganda is required to provide periodic report to the African Commission on Humar and People's Rights every two years arrd the Africal ttee on the Rights of the Child every three years The Minister informed the Committee that for purposes of the above, the Government established the Inter Ministerial Committee on Human Rights.

The committee is Chaired by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and co chaired by the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs.
The Inter-Ministerial Committee constitutes of representatives from various key stakeholders namely Ministries, Departments arrd Agencies ard Civil Society Orgarisations.

t Hon.
Speafter, the Minister reported that since Jarrruary 2O2O, the ministry coordinated submission ofthe following international human rights treaty The Third and Fourth National Report to the African Commission on the Rights ofthe Child 22"d MarcL, 2O22i Uganda's Third Universal Periodic Review (UPR3) Report to the United Nations Human Rights Council- 8th October 2021; Combined Eighth ard Ninth Report s to the Committee on Elimina ofAl1 against Women - 29rh June 2021: s of Discrimin \ Page 11 1 of 150 1 11 111 €e \ J lv The Report on the United 12th May, 2027: onvention on the Rights ofthe Child v. Combined second, third and fourth periodic report of Uganda on the implementation of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights 29th November, 2020 vi.
The Report to the United Nations Committee Against Torture- 17e August,2020; vii.
The First Periodic Report on the Maputo Protocol to the Africar Commission on Human and People's Rights- December, 2020 The Committee was informed that the Minister for Foreign Affairs led a delegation, ol 27 Jafiuary 2022, which included the Attorney-General and the Chairperson of the Human Rights Committee, as well as Members of the Uganda Humal Rights Comrnission to Geneva, Switzerlald to the Human Rights Council for the third Universal Periodic Review.
The Minister asserted that Uganda's presentation was well received ard that the Ministry has since sponded to the recommendations, made by member states e minister reported that the ministry coordinates responses to various human rights issues, when raised by United Nations Special Procedures Mandate holders (Rapporteurs).
These reports are on country situations, on issues such as; LGBTQI rights, rights to freedom from torture, rights to freedom of expression and assembly, journalists, use of force, NGO closures, human rights defenders, Government's implementation of humal rights during the COVID-19 paldemic, alleged arbitrar5r arrests, aibitrary Judicia-l harassment, and violence during the 2O21 General Electiots, inter alia.
that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs coordinates the preparation of responses to Human rights issues raised by Regional Orgalisations (such as the Africal Union Commission and the European Union Commission), by internationa,l Orgalizations (such as Amnesly In nal, Human Rights Watch a.rld UNAIDS) and responses to reports on the try's human rights situation issued in reports by other st Commlttee commet ds the Mirtistry o.f ts lor elJicientlg executlag its coord.inq.tio,n on mqtters coacerning hum,an right-s in Ugand,a, and derivering on its mq,rl,date to ensure that Ugand.a meets her r e p o rting oblig qtion-s.
The Commil*ee recor'nmen,ds that the ministry coordi",q:tes thc t prepq.ration o.f reporting ob iag ,|eports @nd e,rsures that Uga @re furti +r7 Page 1 12 of 150 ry.

t I I t I I I I I I t t !


I I I I I I I I I Alfairs 4.8.4 Submission bg the The Committee met the Minister of Internal Alfairs who is the line minster for Uganda Police Force, Uganda Prisons Service, the NGO Bureau, National Identilication and Registration Authority, the Government Analytica-l Laboratory artd the Citizenship ald Immigration departments.

He was tasked to submit his ministry's assessment of the state of human rights ald humal rights violations in the country during the period under review.
The Committee raised the following issues with the Minister artd asked for a response: 1 11 iii iv allegations of torture by police officers and other police actions that infringe on human rights; the need to upscale the forensics department of police; status of the review of the citizenship of the Maragoli people; the need for review of the laws and regulations governing the operations of NGOs; upgrading custodial facilities for juveniles and offenders with children; r the protection of all Ratihcation of the International Conventions persons from enforced l. The Ugand.o.
Pollce Force Hon.

Speaker, the minister submitted that UPF is mandated to protect life and property, preserve law arld order; prevent arld detect crime; and to cooperate with civil authority, other security agencies and the population.

In carrying out these functions, the Ugalda Police Force is obligated to observe humal rights.
4.8.4.I.1 Allegqtions oJ totture bg police o!ficers The Minister reported that the major highlight iI the period under review was the November 2O2O riots, which regrettably led to loss of life and property.

He further reported that the cases arising from the riots had been investigated and a number of culpable individuals subjected to the due process of the law.

Out of 1,088 suspects arrested during ald in the altermath of the riots, 949 had been arraigned.

333 were convicted, while 128 were discharged.


The rest are still on trial or being processed.

The Committee was informed that in the period under review, a total of 35 cases of a-lleged torture by security personnel were reported to police.

Out of the Professional Standards Unit ted, 1l were referred ese, 7 were t- Page 113 of 150 s. of the UPF for further management, and 4 closed and put away by Resident State Attorneys (RSAS).
13 cases are still under investigation The status of the proceeding against the suspects is below: .

49 suspects were involved in acts of torture, i.

19 persons were arrested and charged, a.

4 accused persons were remanded, b.

12 accused persons were gralted bail, c. 3 were acquitted aJter their cases were dismissed.

ii.

30 cases are still under investigation.

The Committee was further informed that acts of torture committed by individual police officers are not institutionalised.
Torture is prohibited by law and the values of policing, inculcated through training and the standard operating procedures arrd guidelines that are formulated and issued from time to time.

4.4.4,1.2 Measures token to d.eo.l roith lndlscipline ln the Vgqnda Police Force Rt Hon.

Speaker, the Committee was informed that by the end of 202 1, 1, 1 3 1, disciplinary cases were reported and investigated.
Five hundred ninety-three 3), cases were conclusively prosecuted and 538cases, are yet to be concluded in the different police disciplinarJr courts across the country The Committtee noted the qctio'ts taken to qddress i^disciplTne in the wF.

The Cotnmil:tce recomr'[ends thqt dlscfu)linary processes dnd a,ctio', qgai^st errant otficers should.

be m.ade qccessible to the public @nd publicised..


The Comrtalttee further recontfliend.s thqt lor all co.ses ol human rlghts oiolqtions, erraat ojfr.cers should be tried in the courts ol judicature qrad.

sltbjected.

to the criminol justlce sgstem.


4.8.4.I.3 The need to upscq.le the Vgqadq Police Force.Porensics Depqrtment J The Committee was informed that the Uganda Police Force has a Special nvestigations Unit housed under ClD, which coordinates investigation with other specialised units like the Forensics department, Canine unit and Police luding Health Services.
The Sp torture alle al Investigations Unit investigates crrmes gations L €' W Page 114 of 150 h support of Government, is gradually The Uganda Police F enhancing investment in forensic investigations both at the Police Forensics department and the Government Analytical Laboratory.

orce wit Rt.

Hon.
orce wit Rt.

Hon.

Speaker, the plight ofthe Maragoli Community in Uganda first carne to the attention of the Sectoral Committee on Legal and Parliamentary Affairs during the Constitution (Amendment) 2O15, when they asked to be included 7 in the Schedule ofthe Constitution ofthe Republic ofuganda.
The Committee recommended that Government sets up a Constitutional Review Commission to handle the multitude of proposals received from the public through comprehensive regional consultations held by the Committee at the time.

The Minister informed the Committee on Human Rights that while the origins of the Maragoli are not documented in detail, they are said to have migrated from present day Saudi Arabia to South Sudan and via ES/pt.
They crossed the border into the West Nile arld Bunyoro sub-regions in the 18th century.

A second group is believed to have arrived in Ugalda from Kenya around the \ 19OO's, during the construction of the Uganda Railways.

Later in the 1950's 1l \/ Maragoli migrated to Uganda, on invitation of the King of Bunyoro.

The settled the community on the land they occupy today in Western Uganda.

j The current challenges of the community begal in 2015.
The covemment embarked on a mass national registration of Ugardar citDens a-nd issualce of national identihcation cards under a newly constituted National ldentification and Registration Authority (NIRA).

NIRA was unable to register and issue nationaf identity cards to this group of people because their ethnic group was not included in the Third Schedule of the 1995 Constitution and the 2005 amendment.

The Consutution recognises only 65 tribes in Uganda.
The Maragoli, for the hrst time, were at risk of being rendered stateless because their registration was declined and identity cards were withheld, Most Maragoli during the registration exercise were advised to register as Banyoro, the dominant ethnic group in the area.

MaIy did so but others refused, not wanting to lose their own identity as an ethnic group with an established history in the area.

Rt Hon.
Rt Hon.

Speaker, Maragoli leaders took a number of steps to try to solve the ', problem with the NIRA, but to date, their challenges remain.

The majority of the Maragoli have not been issued with nationa.l identity cards.

They have Attornev-General and .befltioned the President, the Speal<er of t, I n16 fr4 I 1 L 150 the Ministry of Intemal Affats- Their petitions dealt with.
t been conclusively The Committee was informed that the Minister instructed the NIRA to issue identity cards to the Maragoli as advised by the Attorney General pending constitutional amendment for their inclusion in the Third Schedule.

The minister's directive was not implemented.

The President directed the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs in J.u.ly 2Ol7 to include the Maragoli in the constitutional amendment.

The directive is pending the legal process.


The Committee was informed that NIRA advised Maragoli people to acquire citizenship through naturalization.

The community, however, has declined this option for the following reasons: 1 It would represent an admission that they are foreigners, a position they contest.
They contend that generations of their ancestors had lived in Ugarda for decades preceding independence- naturalization does not offer the guarantee of permarent citizenship since such citizenship carr be revoked by an Act of Parliament or administrative action.

They perceive the refusal to issue identity cards as evidence of rising discrimination against them.

They contend that naturalization would further entrench their secondarJr status in the country.
The Commlttee notes that tl@ feqr o.f stqtelessness is of graue concera aftd.

a lundamentel hum@n rights issue.

The CommiLtee recommends thqt Goaeranent should elpedite the cteqtion o!

the Constitutionq,l Reuiew CommissTon to conclude thls issue o.f the Mora.goll Communltg la Ugondo.

The CommiLtee lurther recomntends that q prlaqte member or committce ol parllameat consid.ers lntroducing q priuqte merBber's bill to o.dd"ess this issze.

IIII.

The Need for Ret ieu o.f The Laus and.


Reglrl(ltlons GotErniftg the Operations of IIGOS; The Committee was informed that the process of reviewing the National NGO Policy, 2O1O and the NGO Act, 2016 is ongoing and the Minister of Intemal by the NGO Affairs has Page 116 of 150 constituted a technica-I commi L v 1 J b *, Bureau comprising a number of MDAS ffer support.
These include Attorney-General's Chambers; Ministry of Finance Planning and Economic Development, Ministry of Foreign AIIairs, First Parliamentary Council, Uganda Law Reform Commission, Financial Intelligence Authority and Internal Security Organisation.

The NGO Bureau informed the Committee that arl inter-ministerial committee set up by Cabinet to develop guidelines to regulate non-income funding by NGOs in order to protect the couqtry's sovereignty and to ensure accountability presented its report.
The Cabinet directed that these guidelines be formulated into a policy for adoption.

This is intended to strearnline the regulation of the NGOS arld ensure better effect for the support they provide.

The Minister of Internal Affairs reported that his ministry is in ttre process of putting in place an Inter Agency Platform comprising key MDAs that meets ry quarter to address issues arising from NGO operations in the country Rt Hon.
Speaker, the Committee noted the complaints that the NGO Bureau had unilaterally suspended operations of some NGOs without according them a right to a fair hearing arld in total disregard of the effects of COVID-l9 on their operations which had variously made it difficult for them to operate arrd hle returns in accordalce to the law.

The Committee also noted the explanations offered by the Attorney General, the Minister of Internal Affairs and the NGO Bureau.
The Commilrtee recommends that I tl t v I'IGO Bureau shouw accord these NGOs a lalr heo,rlr.g qnd retiero their cases ulth a uieu o,f suppot ting them to irntrtrove their oPerations.

Tlw regulqtions, poricies and.

the lqut should qchieae lts intended purpose of securing the sovereigntg o.f the country and n@tio'{,o-l secu"itg tuithout inq)osirlg oaerous and non-justiliable obligations on lIGOs.

iii.
iii.

The NGO Burequ should striae to estqblish q. tiae qnd collaboratite relationship with NcOs \ ,@ I w 6W''" \r Page 117 of 150 Iv.

Custodial lacilities lor ju iles @nd olJenders with children 4.8.4.1v.7 Sep(r,ratio,f, ol iuaenlles from qdult oIJeflders RT Hon Speaker, the Minister inforned the Committee that the Ugarda Prisons Service does not admit juvenile offenders in its custody.
Section 58 (7) of the Prisons Act prohibits Uganda Prisons Service (UPS) from admitting juvenile offenders into a prison designated for adult prisoners.

The Minister stated that when a suspected juvenile is committed to prison by court, the Ofhcer in Charge is required to refer such juvenile to hospital for determination of the actual age.

Upon confirmation, a report is tended to Court.

The juvenile offender is committed to a Remand Home under the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social development.
Since 2021, 21 juveniles have been sent back to court and admitted to juvenile detention facilities.

4.A.4.1v.2 Upgrqding of custodial Jaciltties Jor juuenlles @nd o.flenders with childrcn Rt Hon.

Speaker, the Minister reported that government is making effort to improve custodial facilities forjuveniles and offenders with children.

He stated that there are designated homes for juvenile offenders and delinquents count{ uide.
He noted however, that they are too few and far between to handle the growing population ofjuvenile offenders.

He also noted that most specialised remand homes are old and require renovation.

4.

8.4.1v.

3 o.ffenders with child.ren Rt Hon.

Speaker, Section 59 (2) ofthe Prisons Act provides as follows "subJect to sttch conditions ds tnag be prescribed, a temale prlsoner tneg be ddmilted into prison custodg uttth her lnjant."
Section 59 (4) of the Prisons Act requires the State to supply the said infants with clothing arld other necessities of life until the infant attains an age of 18 months in which case the offrcer in Charge sha1l on being satisfied that there is a relative or friend of the infant able afld willing to support it, cause the infant to be halded over to the relative.
Section 59 (5) of the Prisons Act provides that where there is no relative or friend referred to in subsection (4) who is able ald willing to support the infart, the Commissioner General may, subject to the relevant laws, entrust the care of the infant to the welfaJe or probation authority as the Comlnissioner General may approve for that purpose.
The Committee was S is looking after 260 babies staying with their in.ffs:tred that currently, the mothers in prisons U v "rl' €, { *+ cz" Page 118 of 150 "v/ lfiL-"-,- a growing number o!

coftcefla thqt The Cornmitlee noles juenile oflenders qnd insullicie'tt remand foclllties.

It luTther notes the dilapidated conditioD o!

the existing remqnd fq.cilities.

fhe Committee recommends that Goaertament tnrrests in the const 'uction and renooation oJ remend.

lacilities lor juttenile ofletders.


Goaernment inuests in the recruittnent qnd trqinlng oJ remaad.

lacilitg ma'r,(Igers.

The troining should empouter such personBel to rehq.billtqte and.

so.telg iategrate the lirrnlle otfend.ers.

The remqnd homes should be desvned qnd built to incorporate technicq, and uoc@tional ttqinlng Ja.cilities.

Juaeniles ln remqnd homes should access lortnql educ@tion cirities.

In the medium to long tefln goterntnent should build separqte children.
Such locilities centtes lot the lqcilities children.

for the in,cqrcero,ti o should iacorporate eqrlg Gouemment should deaelop a compreher6itE I policg, revieu) aad qmend the law (Priso s Act) in respect o!

juvenile ollend.ers and oflenders uith children.

V. Dlrectorqte of Citizenship and.

Immigration Conttol: Mqnagenelt o.f Immigration Custodg Centres Rt Hon.
Speaker, Section 82 of the Uganda Citizenship and Immlgration Control Act, Cap 66, empowers the Citizenship arld Immigration Control to make regulations for managing custody centres where irregular immigrants detained The Committee was infor-rned that the directorate has gazetted 61 custody centres.

Only two have been built and are in use; one at the ministry headquarters and alother at Namanve.
The Committee was lurther informed that main challenge faced by pre deportation detention centres is the delayed removal of suspects.

It was reported that whereas suspbcts are encouraged to avail tickets for their removal, maly are unable to -has to p.ovide the ly Wt- tickets 4r^*" 1 19 of 1so co t J #.

ges with the release of funds to effect The minister also reported c removals.

For the last two fmancial years, Cabinet froze the release of funds for travel abroad.
This is the budget line charged for removals.

Consequently, illegal immigrants stay longer in the custody centres.

He added that the funds disbursed to the directorate are insufficient for provision of meals and medical services to the detainees.

He reported that detainees are provided with two meals daily.

Ihe Committee noted.

tlat the lino.nciq.l burden of keeping illego.l lmmigrants ln detentlotl peftd.lng d.eportation cqn be reduced if remoao.ls o.re ellected in q. tlmelg mqnner.
The Committee recommends thqt: i.

All trquellets to Ugqnda nust avail proo,f o.f a tetun ticket prior ti.

to beiag ad.mitted.

l'rto the country at the ports of entry.

the trquel abroad bud.get ol tlle Director@te oJ cltizenshlp and Im',,:igretio'[ cont"ol shourd be incre(Ised to cqter tor deportqtion of illegal immigr@nts.

iii.

Gouerflnent should deaelop robust policles, leglslation and.

capqcity to eradicate humq'n trqflicklng.

iv.

The Govetntrcflt should.


establish reho.bllltation centres to king.

manage ulctims oJ human N$t.-'-'-'t ,,*P ll \ ( Page 120 of 150 4.8.5 olllce of the Director of Public Psosecutions (ODPP) Rt Hon.

Speal<er, on 10 June 2O2O, lhe ODPP issued a press release on its stand against torture a.nd other forms of human ri pects while in custody by law enforcement agencies.

s violations o l. Ouet'uiew oJ humqn rlghts violations - 2O2O-2O22.
The ODPP submitted that notable increase in alleged viola[ion of h rights started with the nationwide lockdown during the COVID-1g pandemic (March 2O2O).

A number of cases were reported against law enforcement agencies for violent enforcement of the presidential directives to curb the spread of COVID 19.

It added that this was followed by the election period that started at the time / of primary elections of political parties held between July - September 202O to elect flag bearers.
ODPP reported that a number of police hles were opened during this period, particularly from Mbarara ard Mbale regions.

Some of these files a-re still in court whiie others were concluded.

Most of the offenders were charged with assault, grievous harm, malicious darnage to property, tireatening violence.

A few cases of murder, theft and robbery were recorded.

Rt Hon.
Rt Hon.

Speal<er, the ODPP reported that in 2019 it established a Human Rights Division to; i. champion the promotion ofthe ODPP human rights policies, principles and activities.

.

act as a local point and liaison with Human rights stakeholders.

.

coordinate the hardling ofcases involving alleged humqrt rights abuses.
e Committee was informed that the division has conducted trainings and stakeholder engagements countrj,.wide on the legislative framework governing human rights laws including the Prevention and Prohibition of Torture Act (and the Regulations made thereunder) and the Human Rights Enforcement Act, etc.

The trainings were conducted in Masaka, Mbarara, Kabale, Ama, Mbale and Soroti.

ODPP added that the Division represents it at the Inter-ministerial Committee on Human rights.
It participated in the preparation ofgovernment's Universal periodic review reports.

M The ODPP perused the followi ofhcers of UPF files involving humar righ violations by L I 127 1 €, s No.

61919 PC Kateteyi Robert JINJA CRB 249 /2016 U PSU/JJA GEF 033/ 20 l9 Ug vs ASP Azoora& Anor PSU/ WNR/GEF/ ),112077 Ugvs D/ASP Bayo Robert PSU/JJA/GEF/85/2018 Ug vs O/C CID Idudi Police Station PSU/KMP/GEF/2 46 /20la Ug vs Asp Kayonga& Ors PSU/WML/GEF/33/2O2O Ug vs Police Officers from Mubende Police Station Rt Hon.
Speaker, ODPP reported that the case files with sufhcient evidence to sustain charges of torture and cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment were prosecuted in Court to a logical conclusion.

ODPP reported being constrained by the lock down restrictions.

II.

Human Rights Cases hendled bg the DPP lrom Julg - Dec 2027 The Committee was informed that ODPP registered 33 cases of torture, 225 cases cruel, inhumal or degrading treatment.
In the same period, the DPP sanctioned 28 cases of police torture files ar'd 2O4 of cruel, inhumal degrading treatment.

The ODPP further reported that 19 convictions oftorture arrd 204 of cruel inhumai a degrading treatment were secured.

ODPP reported that COVID-1g lockdown constrained the handling and prosecution of cases.

IIII.

Challenges ln the q,pplication of the Eunet Rights Entorcernent Act Rt Hon.
Speaker, ODPP opined that Section (10) of the Human Rights Enforcement Act is too wide and ambiguous as far as what amounts to icipation in association with others in the violation of zughts and Freedoms.

ODPP proposed that to amend the section which provides for, personal liability for infrinBement of rights ald freedoms.
The provision that a public offrcer sha-ll be held liable for the violating or participating in the violation of any rights or freedoms indiuidually or in association with others notwithstanding the state being vicariously liable for his or her actions is onero!ls.

ODPP complained that prosecutors in the course of their work receive files from police for sanctioning so that suspects carr appear in court.
At the time of sanctioning there is no mecharism for prosecutors to know that ary of the suspect's rights and freedoms have been violated.The section provides for, ,@lati.tg or participatinq in the violation any right or freedom individually or 5 in association with others.

ODPP questions whether prosecutors be held tlv accountable for applied.

ns they had no control over when the section is s (- \ dlh------ b Page 122 o 150 Rt Hon.
Speal<er, ODPP reported that some attornevs been sued for acts done in the execution of their mandate.

They expressed fear that the attorneys may hesitate to peruse and sanction files thereby propelling the country into lawlessness.

have The ODPP raised issues with section 1 1(2) {c) of the same Act which provides that where in any criminal proceedings; i. ii.
iii, it appears to the judge or magistrate, it is brought to the attention of a Magistrate or Judge, the court makes a finding that any of the accused persons' non- derogable rights a,nd freedoms have been infringed upon, the judge or magistrate presiding over the trial shall declare the trial a nullity and acquit the accused person.

The ODPP asserts that the discretion given to the judicial officer in subsection (i) and (ii), does not provide for an opportunity for the other party to be heard.
In effect, a court car ma-he a hnding to declare a criminal tria-l a nullity without conducting a court hearing of the original criminal case.

t Hon.

Speater, the ODPP expressed concern as to what happens to complainants/victims of aggravated defilement, rape, robbery or murder, ald what remedies are available to them as the hrst victims to violations of rights and freedoms, particularly when they are not pa-rty to or even aware of the alleged violations against their aggressors.
ODPP suggests that the trial of a victim of torture should not be declared a nullity but the court should dispense the remedies in section 9 of the Act, which include compensation, rehabilitation, restitution ard public apolog/ g others The Commilrtee noted thdt the concents o.f the ODPP are legititnate.

However, the intcntioft o.f the leglslator in enacting secf,iorui 70 and 7 7 ol the Humqn Righls Enforcement Act w@s to provide fool proof protection qgqinst breqch of non-derogqble rights.
The Comnltttee tecorn ne'rds thqt the Govern nent should- I li.

contiraue trqining law enforcement ageracies on the need to observe human rights a.s theg execute their dutles.

Encourqge, Iacilitate @ftd deaelop prosecution led inaestigatlons Jor ell cases Fr ,",E 4W---^ 1 L Page 123 of 1 0 1fi.

tlr.

tr@in state attornegs qnd judiciql otfrcers to exetcise due dlllgence in intetogqting how evidence ls obtalned while peflBiag the lilc and.

belore admitting the euideftce.


Exped.itc the e,[o.ct''ient ol the Witness Protection Lan t /1 /t( \(k, X Page 124 of 150 dP f /I 4.8.6 Submisslon by the Minlstry of Defence and Veterafl Affalrs l. Uganda People's Deience Forces in the Humqn Right-s Arena Rt Hon.

Speaker, the 1995 Constitution of the Republic of Ugalda, UPDF Act, 2005, the Human Rights (Enforcement) Act,2019 and other subordinate legislation are instructive on obseryar,ce and respect for Human Rights.
Chapter Four of the Constitution and Arttcle 221 enjoins security organizations, including the UPDF, to observe ar-rd respect Human Rights and Freedoms in the pedormance of their functions.

The UPDF Act comm.Lnds the UPDF to be professional, disciplined, patriotic, nonpartisan, national in character and subordinate to civilian authority in execution of their Constitutional obligations.
Respect for and protection of human rights is one of the pillars upon which the success of the liberation struggle was hinged.

4,a.6.1.7 Eniorcement ol COVID-I9 SOPS and Guldeli'1es The Ministry of Defence ard Veteran Affairs submitted to the Committee that the onset ofthe COVID 19 pandemic presented different challenges to the full enjoyment of human rights in all communities around the World.

Uganda was no exception.


The UPDF was tasked to reinforce the UPF in the enforcement of COVID-19 SO that prioritised saving life t Hon.

Speaker, the ministry reported that the security agencies were unde.

immense pressure to strictb enforce the SOPS to prevent the spread of the virus.

The enforcement of curfew rules, wearing ofmasks, observance ofsocial distance, compelling the community to wash their hands was unprecedented and posed a challenge to the security agencies.
The ministry admitted that solated instances, the UPDF registered cases of excessive use of force by errant soldiers that resulted into human rights violations.

The ministry reported that soldiers also suffered gross violations of their rights perpetrated 6v lhe utanoinchi.

4.a.6.L2 Incid.ents ol Hunan Rights Violations q.fld q,ctio'r ta.ke,t The ministry reported that the UPDF recorded nine cases of humal rights violations.

Below is a list of the cases alld action taken in each.
(i) Assault of the Mityana LC V Chairperson by Cpl Anguria.

The soldier S was tried and sentenced to six months imprisonment by the Division Court Martial sitting at Kal{iri.

Elegu incident in Amur District of 21 April 2020 where six UPDF soldiers and 1 1 Police officers in a joint operation, assaulted women during curfew enforcement.
The culprits were charged before the 4th (ii) @ €r_ Page 125 of 15 \ L vision Court Martial arld Uganda Police isciplinary Committee respectively with assault Causing body harm, convicted and sentenced to various terms of imprisonment.

Assault of traders and cyclists at downtown Kampala, on 20 March 2O2O.

Local Defence Forces assaulted vendors selling fruits and vegetables arrd cyclists for non-complialce with measures to close non-food markets.
Pte Etunet Bosco who assaulted one civilian at Kisaasi Road construction project was sentenced to two years imprisonment.

Pte Narnuli Ronald who shot Robert Kagolo (ajournalist) was charged with manslaughter ard sentenced to five yeaJs imprisonment.

Pte SaJi Mustapher who shot a civilian at Wandegeya Police Station was sentenced to 35 years imprisonment.

L/pl Mugisha Augustine who killed two people, including a soldier during the riots was sentenced to life imprisonment.
November 2O2O tl,e riots, which led to the loss of life ard property.

Investigations were conducted and a number of perpetrators have been subjected to due process of the law.

The process of compensating innocent victims under the Attorney General's Chaml:ers has been initiated.

Some of the families have opted to obtain redress through Court.

Assault ofjournalists at the UN offices in Kololo.


Six UPDF personnel were publiciy tried at Military Headquarters Makhdye, convicted and (iii) (iv) (v) (vi) (vi0 (viii) {1x) 4,4.6.1.3 Allegq.tions o.gainst CMI Rt Hon- Speaker, the ministry reported that Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence (CMI) is a chieftaincy under the UPDF.

The ministry emphasised that CMI does not operate independent of the UPDF or outside the law that governs the UPDF.
d, The ministry reported that CMI conducts joint operations with sister security agencies.

Such operations include arrests of elements that threaten national, regiona-l and intemational security, such as terrorists.

It further reported that tigated and a.llegations of torture formally made against CM s appropriate action taken III.
Allegations o,g@inst tlrc Flsheries ProtectTort Untt FPA) The ministry informed the Committee that FPU was created to protect Uganda's waterbodies and to curb illegal fishing practices.

It avers that the ngly resi.qted by the hshermen deployment of FPU on water bodies ( age 126 of 150 t methods to enrich and the fishing communities were using illegal themselves, at the expense of national interests.
The UPDF - FPU, in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry ard Fisheries (MAAIF) conducted joint operations to control illegal fishing methods.

Illega-l hshing gear, nets, boats and immature fish were confiscated.

This compounded the already existing tension between the UPDF-FPU and the fishing communities.

The ministry submitted that a number of weird but false allegations against the FPU have been registered and given undue publicity.
It confirmed that internal investigations exposed many claims as falsehoods.

on the allegations that on 2 Jwne 2021, one Omar Patdck was attacked and - killed by the UPDF in Opali Subcounly around L. Kyoga and eight otherc made 1 to pay bribes to be released, the Minist'er reported that to the contrary, investigations revealed that Omara Patrick, while evading arrest by FPU jumped olf a caroe (bau tatu) irrto the lake and drowned.
ministry further reported that allegations of rape by UPDF against one, te Naume, a 16-year-o1d on 1* Dec 2019, were also found false The Ministry reported the death of Fte.

Okodoi Patrick who was strangled by hshermen.

The ministry informed the Committee that the unit has undergone marry structural reforms to make it more user-friendly and cognisant of human rights issues.

II.

Disarrn@ment oper@tlons in l{qro.rnoJa Subregion Rt Hon.
Speaker, the Ministry informed the Committee that the ongoing operation Code named "USALAMA KWA WOTE" was launched on 13 July 2021 ald comprises UPDF, ASTU, ISO arrd UPF.

The operation primarily aims at stopping criminality; arresting and prosecuting armed criminals and cattle mstlers, ensuring peace and development returns to Karamoja, which is the only guarantee to the full enjoyment of all the other human rights.
t reports that the disarmament operation in Karamoja is an extra-ordinarJr activity where the UPDF, in concert with other security agencies a-re engaging with armed gangs; "warriors".

It noted that this is a "war like" situation where the UPDF has lost a number of its soldiers.
Manv innocent civilians have lost lives ald pr of the armed gangs and the UPDF at the h3ds p4 $lti-----* I Page 727 of l5O iq.-_ "4' The Ministry acknowledged reports of human rights violations by both the UPDF soldiers and the warriors.

It briefed the Committee that five UPDF soldiers have been tried and convicted as listed below: (i) Sgt Shabar Ashiral and 03 others charged with ald convicted of murder arld sentenced to 60 years imprisonment.
(ii) Pte Dokito Paskale arld another, charged with and convicted of murder and sentenced to 40 years imprisonment.

(iii)Pte Adapu Isaac was charged and convicted of attempted murder ai]d sentenced to OS years imprisonment.

(iv)Pte Olim Peter was charged arld convicted of assault and sentenced to 02 years impi:isonment (v) Col. Opio Sarn was charged ald convicted ofcausing grievous harm and sentenced to 02 years imprisonment.
The Committee was briefed that from 13 Jruly 2021 to date, at least 151 guns arld 1581 ammunition has been recovered.

A total of 350 armed warriors were successfully prosecuted before courts martial.

14,687 animals have been recovered.

Rt Hon.

Speaker, the following a.re the interventions made by UPDF towards promotion and protection of human rights.
i) intensifled ideological orientation and human rights awareness paigns arnongst service personnel to enharce conscious ipline ard the promotion, observarce and respect for human rights (iil Put in place judicial ar1d other institutions instrumental in promoting and ensuring discipline.

These include MiLitarJr Courts, the Chieftaincy of Legal Services, and Chieftaincy of the Political Commissariat, CIMIC, CMI and the Directorate of Human Rights.
(iii) Under Section 29(d) of UPDE Act, the Deputy CDF as Inspector of Defence Forces is tasked to promote strict adherence to the rule of law, humar rights and principles of natural justice.

€' tJ (iv) Instituted a compensation scheme by MoDVA for violations of humar rights.

An active Compensation Committee considers all deserving claims for compensation, guided by comprehensive investigations and makes appropriate recommendations.
The Ministry reassured the Committee that UPDF is committed to ensuring adhere to the observance, protection its Officers arld Militants s (, Page 12 of 150 I I I I I I I I I I I t I I I I !

I I I l and respect of human rights in execution of their constitutional mandate.

He appealed to members of the public including senior leaders to reciprocate the discipline exhibited by Lhe UPDF.

The Committee commend,s the Ministry of Detence qnd, Veterqa Allqirs o.nd.
the WDF lor the institutional trameuork put in place to ensure the p"omotiolt a;nd.

protection o.f humoln rights and.

the dlsclpline ol the forces.

The Cornmilttee recommend.s tha.t Goue civiliq.ns ln militqry courts s,rould desist trom trying S9.. L 129 of 150 .d<) t/ Nl----- & National Guidance 4.8.7 Ministry of I Rt Hon.

Speater, the Minister for ICT and National Guidance emphasised that the Government of Ugalda remains committed to promoting human rights in the country.
He noted that steps have been taken to improve the observance, promotion and protection of humar rights.

The Minister noted that communication is arl essential aspect in all spheres of human endeavour.

It is linked to the freedom of expression under Article 29 of t}re Constitution.

He pointed out that the Computer Misuse Act 20 1 1, creates among others, two offences of Cyber harassment alrd offensive communication.
Cyber harassment is the use of a computer for any of the following purposes- i. making any request, suggestion or proposal which is obscene, lewd, lascivious or indecent, ii.

threatening to inflict injury or physical harm to the person or property of aly person, or, iii.

knowingly permits any electronic communication device to be used for any of the purposes mentioned in this section.

Section 25 creates the offeo.ce of offensive communication.
Verbatim, it states "Ang person who willfutA and repeatedlg uses electronic communicqtion to disturb or attempts to di.sturb the peace, quiet or ight of piuacA of onA person uith no purpose of legitimate communic@tion uhether or not q conuersation ensues commits q misdeme@nor and is tiable on conuiction of a fine not exceeding tuentA-four curencA points or impisonment not exceeding one gear or both".
The minister opined that in Uganda, the mainstream print and electronic media makes deliberate effort to ensure that content is factual, objective, balalced ard in good taste.

He further noted that editors review content against professional stardards and provisions of the press laws.

He asserted that as a consequence, there are few cases of offensive communication in the mainstream media.

Rt Hon.

Speaker, the Minister avers that the rea-l challenge with offensive communication is social media.
He laments that anyone with access to the intemet a-nd ICT enabled devices like computers, tablets and smart phones can disseminate ary content, and from anlnvhere.

He argues that with the proliferation of citizen journa.lism, the ial media space has no regard for morality.

He regrets that facts, sensitivity to the law, decency highly offensive content.
people who ases of sof g I there are growin er, W Page 130 of 150 Some operate pseudo social media accounts, spend hours invading the privacy of others, posting secta.ian, inflammatory, sexually explicit material, malicious arrd defamatory content.

The Committee was informed that the Ministry of ICT & National Guidarce had registered a sharp increase in the frequency and intensity of offensive communication during the 2021 General Elections.
The cases of smear carnpaigns on socia.l mcdia peaked during that time.

The scientific nature of the mobilisation, due to restriction of physica-l rallies, was a contributing factor to the heightened activism in the media, with numerous offensive posts through social media.

The minister appealed to Pa.rliament to be part of the efforts towards developing a more effective legal framework to address offensive communication, particularly in the digitai media space.
He emphasised that media in general but social media in particular, should be harnessed to build, er than break our society.

He observed that responsible use ofsocial media be achieved alongside promoting and protecting human rights.

Commil,tee noted Government's commltn@nt to pro',iotin,g ,.9 humar.

rtghts in Aganda.
rtghts in Aganda.

4.9 JUDICIAL CONSIDERATION OF CASES OF TORTURE The Committee reviewed some judicial decisions during the course of its inquiry and reports as follows: J T L Cases of torture give rise both in civil and criminal proceedings.

In civil proceedings hled before the High Court, the claims are largely for damages, In some instances, constitutional petitions are fi1ed before the Constitutiona.l Court to interpret a particulai article or nullify criminal trials of suspects on grounds of torture.
In criminal proceedings, the question for determination has been whether evidence procured through torture is admissible.

The implementation Section 11 of the Human Rights Enforcement Act 2079 which require that once violation of a non derogable right is brought to the court's atten[ion, the criminal tria] must be declared a nullity and the accused acquitted has been a matter ofcontestation.
the Prevention and Prohibition of Torture Act 2012 prohibits admissibility of evidence obtained throuBh torture of susPects or witnesses g i.#rr.
1 of 150 &, F 4,9.1 Constitutional Court 'tr,izza In CoDstitutional Petition No.7 of 2OO7 Dr Beslgye & others vs AG, judgment delivered on 12!h October 2010, the court unanimously granted the petitioners an order permanently prohibiting the state from using the process of any court, military or civilian to initiate and prosecute them in connection with an alleged plot to overthrow the government of Ugalda between December 2OO1 a,nd December 2O04.

.
.

This injunctive relief resulted pa-rtly from the wanton torture of the petitioners from court premises on 1s March 2007 when they were beaten, together with their lawyer.

Constitutlonal Petition No.53 of 2OlO Behangana Domaro & anor vs AG, judgment delivered on 12th October 2015, the court unanimously found that the Petitioners l,ad inter alia proved that they had been tortured contrary to Article 24 during their arrest and detention but referred the matter of their compensation to the high court.
The court declined to stay their prosecution for alleged crimes despite finding that their rights had been grossly violated and the ar-resting ofhcers had acted with impunity, The court departed from its position in Dt I(izza.

Beslgye & Others vs AG.

In Constitutional Petitlon 55 & 56 of 2O11 Omar Awadh Omat & 1O Others vs AG decided on 22nd October 2014, tL,e court declined a stay of criminal proceedings of the 11th July 2O10 bombing suspects, holding that the allegations of torture had not been proved.
The court further held that discretion to stay proceedings must be exercised sparingly ald carefully .

They declined to do so ostensibly on grounds that the petitioners had been accused of grave offences.

Clearly, they adopted a standard of proof for torture that seemed to be beyond reasonable doubt.

The justices showed a readiness to believe afhdavit evidence from the Respondent's security officers as opposed to the Petitioners.
II III Committee noted thqt the Constitutionql Court depqrtzd jurisprudence estqblished in the Besigge petltlon.

its €e, Committee recommends that Pq'rliq.ment urges the judiciary to ve n 77 ol thq Hunto.n Rights Enlorcement Act 2079 tDhich eflect to L Page 132 of 150 /- ;-' spectticallg prouides th(I,t prool oJ torture is co dnd nullw criminal trials of ground.s to stag 4.9.2 T,,e High Court The High Court routinely makes awards in favour of torture victims.
These awards are alleged to be inadequate and do not sutficiently represent the gravity of torture.

A few recent decisions illustrate this point I II Miscellaneous Cause No.

OO3 & 17 of2O17 Rights Trumpet & 2 others vs AG & 5 others, Mucunguzt Abel & 9 others vs AG & 2 others (15th I,lay 2O2Ol, rrhere 35m was aLuqrded to bnure victim^s.

Miscellaneous cause No.

42 of2019 Felix cuthbert EsoLo & 3 othera vs AG & DPP (3oth April 2O2O), where court ruled that torture had not been proved.
Holding that courts should apply a very stdct test in proof of torture arld only the worst examples are likely to satisfy the testl Civil Suit No.

226 of 2015 Yahaya Lukwago E others vs CG PrlsonE & 3 others (2ott Dec 2019), where plaintiffs awarded 3Om damages for torture while they were in prison detention.

Torture meted out by prison wardens was intense and over a period of time resulting into lasting physical infirmities on plaintiffs.

Miscellaneous Cause No.


21O of 2077 Abdu Rq.shid Mbo.zlra & 27 olllers as Ac decid.ed on 72ch Oclober 2O77, applicants awarded SOm each as damages for torture while in custody of police and the military.

Court granted permission to African Centre for Treatment aIId Rehabilitation ofTorture Victims (ACTV) to access prison once every month \ ptr ( 9 //7 O Page 133 of 150 ,!/ 1 v VI VII vrII J o r 2017 to check on health status of applicants and report to court monthlv Civtl Suit No.
289 of 2014 Mwesigwa Hannington & 3 others v6 AG (decided 21"t March 20181, plaintiffs awa-rded 15m each for torture that was held to have been proved.

Clvil Suit No.

24a of 2015 Hiririmana David vs AG (decided 18tt Jan 2O2f), plaintiff awarded 14Om for torture and illegal detention for 2 months as well as i1lega1 remand by military court for 5 years.

Miscellaneous Cauae No.


85 of 2O2O Hon.Zaake Francis vs AG & 7 others (declded 96 August 2021), applicant awarded 75m for torture arld illega.l detention for 10 days.

Clvit Suit No.

273 of 2016 John Kaggwa vs Kototyo Ulilllam & AG (decided on 9th Nov 2O18) court granted award of 3O0m in favour of plaintiff for inhuman and degrading treatment, illegal detention for 3 days, arbitrary arrest and fact that Delendants defied court order for unconditional release as well as one to pay a fine for contempt.
The Iegal fraternity holds the view that the John Kaggwa decision represents the correct approach to showing disdain for torture.

The awards need to be high enough to deter future conduct or at the minimum, cause reflection at higher echelons ofgovernment.

'{l:' The Commlttee obset'ees thqt the awqrds qre qrbitrary,lollou no kao|aJ'r Jormule and.

are therelore inconsistent.

The Commll*ee recomr,tre,{,ds th@t the Judiciary estqblishes c consistent scele oJ damages pag@ble to torture a,ctints.
It lurther recommend.s thqt compensdtion auard.s should.

be htgh reat to lrum@n rlghts vlolations and torture in enough to be patticular.

,/.

€r crimlual tdals 4.9.3 Torture In HCT-O5-CR-CSC-O297-2OO6 Uganda vs PTE Turyamureeba Amon & another, the evidence procured th rture was excluded arrd Trial J udge used the occasion to strongly used persons.

He proceeded to acquit them.

to I Page 134 of 150 0@.e Section 11 ofthe Human Rights Enforcement Act 2019 has now setued the law.
The Comiil*ee obserues that the .tudiciq.ry is get to giue fwu effect to the sectlon.

The Committee recommends thqt the Judictqry ensures thqt torture uictims are rl.ot tried, and.

qre excluded lrom the crimin,o.l justice sgstem.

w M^ f*4 J I E iqu )- J Page 135 of 150 { 5 CONCLUSION Rt.

Hon.
Hon.

Speaker, The Committee wishes to thalk all the Ministries, Departments and Agencies that appeared before it to present their submissions and memoranda on the state of human rights arld human rights violations from January 2020 to date.

I wish to thank the Members of the Committee for their commitment to the work of the Committee during the inquiry.

Rt.

Hon.

Speaker and Hon.

Members, I beg to report.


I / { L &* Page 136 of 150 dBa Antrex ore: Action taken agalnst prisons staff violating the rights of prisoners accus Rank Name Station Offence SN File No.
Plo/e 4 1 PO.I Masafu Ojambo Joseph at tr 4 2 P/E/13 9 PO.II EtyaJtg Patrick Masafu 47Aa Cpl/Wdr Elotu Charles Kaberamai do n ffit"-/ 4 7144 Cpl/Wdr Olila Kitgum Stephen Erebu el \Ntu- /Y Neglect of duly failed to - supervise prisoners arrd this gave the Katikiros arr opportunity to torture and cause the death of MSU (c) 108/ 1e Ochieng Stephen Neglect o{ duty failed to supervise prisoners arrd this gave the Katikiros a-n opportunity to torture and cause the death of MSU (c) 1oa/ 79 Ochieng Stephen Oppressive conduct- hit prisoner no.
22 /2019 with a stick on his left arm and injured him.

Assault Beat Prisoner No.
K"tG /294 /2O1 Actlon Taken Fined -Charged with Murder FirIed -Charged with Murder Sentence dtoa stem warning Suspend ed sentence 137 of 150 LtU 9 Omony Geoffrey ald caused injury to his left eye Neglect of duty failed to supervise prisoners and this gave the Katikiros €m opportunity to torture ard cause the death of MSU (c) loa/le Ochieng Stephen Oppressive conduct- used excessive force and assaulted escapee No.51 / 20 19 Nuwabeine Martin by causing injury to his leg using a blunt object Unlawful exercise of authority slapped and kicked prisoner number KJB /OO25 /20 18 Withdrawal from duty of discharge for 12 months Discharg ed from service and charged with murder Fined ar-rd issued a Iast warning Fined and issued a stern warning Fined P 138 of 50 5 9994 Cpl/Wdr Magoon Masafu a Emman uel Wambal e I t tN 6 11439 Cpl/Wdr Baseke Deo Kyargwali W- / 7 1 1302 Warder Edo Fralcis Kiljumba 8 14326 Warder Ariu Joseph $y$q {Ivl) -!.t /i \-) //// N .,'!p; €/ Withdrew from point of deployment Neglect of duty - neglected Prisoner No.
AP.U l24e /2O2 o and left him ha-ndcuffed to a hospital bed while admitted at the hospital Discreditable conduct caused alarm in the hospital Assaulted Fema]e Prisoner No.

R324 /2019 Kakwere Teddy 19 / 12 /2021, on Fined I 3 \ Y /' Page 139 of 150 9 1653 5 wardres S Apac Tumuh eki Honest 1, 6'/r,Y-/ # Annex three: Action taken to address HuEan rights vlolations by prisoner leaders "Katikiros" from,2O2O to 20221 SN Prisoner Name No.
and 24 IiISU O24 /2019 Zimoto Alias Mrefu PrisoI Unit Masafu 25 MSU David 180/2018 Talo Masafu 26.
MSU Mulango Ramadhan 07412079 Masafu 27 KTAPC 059/ 2015 Mugume Vincent Kitalya (Farm) / 28 KTAPC 19O /2017 Ahimbisibwe Joel Kitalya (Farm) 29 KTAPC 065/ 20 18 Lukwago Simon Kitalya (Farm) 30 KTAPC Akibar Ali 080/2018 Kitalya (Farm) Offence Participated in beating of MSU 108/2019 Ochieng Stephen that resulted in his death Participated in beating of MSU 108/2019 ochieng Stephen that resulted in his death PaJticipated in beating of MSU 108/2019 Ochieng Stephen that resulted in his death Beat prisoner deployed Katikiro Shamba Beat prisoner deployed Katikiro Shamba Beat prisoner deployed Katikiro Shamba Beat prisoner deployed fellow while asa in main fellow while asa in main fellow while asa in main fellow while asa Action Taken Charged with murder Charged with murder Charged with murder Withdrawn from ( leadership < and cautioned Wamed Withdrawn from Ieadership Cautioned and Page 140 of 150 W I 4J.
I T I I I I t I I I I I I I I t !

t I I I 31 KTAPC Bahati John 06612016 Kitalya (Farm) oRT Watenga Robert 2O3 /2019 Orom Tikao ORT 23312019 Okeny Emmanuel Orom Tikao 34 LGR 058/2015 Ndema Lugore Yonah fellow while asa in main Katikiro in mai Shamba Beat prisoner deployed Kalikiro Shamba Caning fellow prisoner No.

ORT 167 /2Or9 Wanwaku Pascal Caning prisoner No 269 /2019 George Assaulted prisoner No.
LGR 201l202O Watala David and he sustained minor injuries fellow ORT Ebau -45 LGR 264 /2O2O Okello Bensolr Lugore Caled prisoner No.

LGR 1O4 /2019 Okurut Joseph TR 96212019 Oburu Peter To.oro 37 TR 45012017 Mugabi Tororo Robert 38 TR 67712018 Ochieng Tororo Richard Assaulted prisoner No, 16312O1a Olowo Peter Assaulted prisoner No.

34O /2079 Mukwana Peter Assaulted prisoner No.


1060/2020 Obwala Andrew L 36 / (' ,& ( t., Page 141 of 150 Ts&-) apologised to victim Serious warning and apologised to victim Withdrawn from leadership Awarded 14 days loss of remission days of 7 days loss of remissiorl and withdrawn from leadership 10 loss remission arrd withdrawn from leadership 3 days irr\ isolation ce11.

7 days in isolation ce11.

3 days isolation cell.


1n \)n ) uil 39 TR 555/2019 Efumbi Jackson Tororo 40 RUI Ssekunya Shafik 24212O2O Ssemakula Ruimi 41 RUI 11512017 Ruimi Mugisha Bonny 42 RUr 062/2017 Ruimi Byamukama Moses 43 RUI 370/2018 Milton Ruimi Musasizi 44 RUI OO5/2O19 Ruimi Beinomugisha Ivan Assaulted prisoner No.

3o9/2O2O Masete Jimmy Hit Prisoner No.

252 /2O2O Byeserc James in the face with the fist Fought prisoner No.

oO9l2O2O Masereka Shadrack and tore his uniform Assaulted prisoner No.
46512019 Muhindo Yunus while working in main shamba Assaulted prisoner No.

534 /2079 Akankwasa Yonal Mayeye while in the kitchen Assaulted Prisoner No.

g11l2O2O Kibonge IvaI while working in main shamba 45 RUI 07912017 Mukuya Ruimi God Assaulted prisoner No.

).54 no?o days of 5 days in isolation ce11.


7 days loss of remission and withdrawn from leadership 14 loss remission and withdrawn from leadership 7 days loss of remission and withdrawn from leadership 10 loss remission and withdrawn Irom leadership 10 loss remission and withdrawn from leadership 10 loss days of days of days of Page 142 of 150 , €' W I I I I I I I I I I I I t I !

I I I I I I 46 RUI 4lal2ota Ruimi Mugume Robert Kintu Alex while working in the kitchen store Assaulted prisoner No.
16sl2o2o Kaggwa John while working in the main shamba remlsslon arld withdrawn from leadership 10 loss remission and withdrawYr from leadership days of d.J -?

t ^-< ,*y- Page 143 of 150 Annex Five: Submlssion by victims of Tort : Experience by the torture victlms under the watch of Col. Frank Bagyenda (Kakal, Rt Hon.
Speaker, the Committee through its investigations, interacted with victims of torture Testimonies from his former detainees, revea,led that Col. Kata was at the forefront of abducting Ugardarl citizens and foreign nationals, especially ofRwandese alrd Somali origin ald indehnitely conhning them to privately designated saJe houses and at a]1 Islald known as Lwamalruba, located in the midst of Lake Victoria in Kalangala District.

J Rt Hon.
J Rt Hon.

Speaker, sad to that the when the victims interacted with the committee, they consistently mentioned Col. Frank Ba$/enda (Kaka), a Ugandan retired military officer in the Uganda People's Defense Forces.

He is the former Director-General of the Internal Security Organization (ISO), ganda Governmentt counter intelligence, as one of the perpetrators of humal rights abuses and violations.

He is a-lso responsible for providing national security intelligence to Uganda's policy makers.
Whereas, some of these victims had a criminal record, most of these were innocent civilians with no criminal record whatsoever.

A case in point are the children who were framed in regard to the Malnyama Secondary School Fire, self made businessmen, mothers and state-witnesses tu.ned into abductees.

Rt Hon.
Rt Hon.

Speaker, the committee learned that these victims were never presented in court ald had no official criminal files at police or CML Morover, they spent several months and years in isolation in safe houses arld at Lwamay'r-rba lsland facility with no communication to families, lawyers, friends, wives, husbards ard the media which would help unfold all that was happening to us.
Similarly, it was revealed to the committee that where torture failed, they were offered to consent to crimes, they had no idea about, in exchalge for freedom, money ald "VIP protection" privileges which were never fulhlled to maly of the victims, some were exposed to physical torture commonly known as "Rambo" ald for some ladies, exposed to sexual assault including but not limited to rape, by the very people meant to watch over them.
For the business men, some were escorted to the bank ard at "gun point" made to withdrawal funds from their persona.l accounts ard others made to olfer their cars in exchalge for freedom.

t Hon.

Speaker, the stories aJe quite nasty; these fellows were guaranteed extra judicial killings if any of them dared to leak information about the whereabouts arrd the conditions of living while at the Island or if any attempted to escape back to mainlarrd.
Al1 the above, arrd much more was Reports of extortion ard sexual assault done under the watch of Page 144 of 150 I La W +r reached Col. Kaka arrd he took no action other than tightening "security" for his victims, so as to avoid leak of information to media arld some government offlces and sister security agencies.
The Committee was informed that Col. Frank Bagyenda (Kaka) had mastered the art of using propagalda, treachery, fear, strategic offers and political divide and rule, to win his victims over and make them forget about the inhumane treatment and lure them to joining him in work according to his terms.
They commonly called it "siasa" whereas, some of them fell lor it, averagely 98% of them rejected his methods of work and were continuously held incommunicado for yeaJs and months after being transferred from "sa.fe houses" to the Island earlier stated above.
I The committee learnt that when Col. Kaka entered office as Director General of lSO, He made internal reshuffles within ISO and allegedly replaced mpetent officers with new faces some of whom were Kaka's relatives and others chosen based on personal preference and not merit as per the designated systems.

Some of the new faces were actually civilians - some , armed -who gave orders to competent and well decorated officers.
Some ofthe naughty members recruited by Kaka inctude Kaberenge, Sobbi, Ismail l Wamala, Shaflc, among others.

Some, such as Kaberenge are responsible for severai people's wrongful arrests and allegedly shooting of others.

Rt Hon.

Speaker, the Committee was informed that on arrest, each or most of Col. Kaka s victims already had designated witnesses such as Shafic or Ismail Wanala who claimed to have information about a target person that was to be or had been arrested by ISO.
Basing, on the testimony of that designated "witness", Kaka would convince his abductees that they are in big trouble and their after he would make afl offer to the abductee to agree to a certain crimina-l act, which the abductee was not aware of, in order to get freedom.

If e abductee accepted the offer, Co1.

Kaka would then make a video recording the abductee, confessing to the crimina] act they have been assigned to confess.
That video would then be uploaded to a specific social media channel known as "Patriotic Pulse TV," on Facebook or main stream media like TV, where it would be watched by the public and considered to be tme.

Having done that, Col. Kaka would consider such a person his asset and give him/her ceftain privileges including but not limited to monetary allowalces.
However, in the event that the abductee rejected Kaka's offer, that person would be exposed to a certain form of torture, threatened more and possibly interrogated and re-interrogated by certain offrcers allegedly from CMI or a statement about a crime they were arrested for lice trying to \ tr+ a Page 145 of 150 J basing on Kaka's d ever d witnesses, or informers, but not taken to court, Further to note is that again on arrest, basing on a person's aggressiveness, Kaka would determine which saJe house one goes to.
The safe houses were classifled into bases; base 1, base 2, base 3 etc.

Some ofthe bases were meailt for tough abductees who would be put there to cool down Iirst.

By cooling down, it meant getting exposed to torture so that the boldness is replaced \,vith fear.
This helped Kala to tame victims who had been "arrested" with a 1ot of resistance within them Kaka went on doing such arrests until his designated "safe houses" got so full with people from different backgrounds, nationalities, social status, gender and age (including those below 18 years).

When the safe houses got overwhelmed, the "old comers" had gotten used to the environment arld information had started leaking when the victims begun compromising the soldiers meant to guard them.
When information leated, it reached relatives who started going to the gates of the safe houses demanding to speak to their relatives.

This being ai illegal practice, Kaka felt concemed that the saJe houses would one day be overwhelmed by civiliars demalding to spea.k to their abducted relatives.

This forced Kaka to reshuffle the soldiers who guarded the safe houses (while punishing some that he believed were reshuffling the guards, Kata sent a sympathizing with the victims) were going home.
Little did they know message that the safe house d it was not home Late in the night, buses were d at the "safe houses' and na.rnes of thos "going home" were read out and told to enter the same buses.

Throughout the journey, they were blind folded and some handcuffed so that no one could see the direction the buses were taking.
After a long ride in the night, they were guided off the buses that night (still blind folded) ard made to stard next to what sounded like a lake shore (they could hear the water waves).

An uncement wasmade that the President/state had ordered Kaka to execute them (by frring squad) but then Kaka had negotiated their freedom that night.
However, their freedom had terms and conditions which included being taken away from the general population to a special place where they could learn technical skills like boat making and farming {this group comprised of averagely 7O 1OO people that night alone) and many of us were still detained as our comrades left and others were among those that left.
This offer was non negotiable ald since fear had already inliltrated down out/their ocent, at that time aJl they could hearts, Much as they knew they were d and free that night.

Later think about was that they were at lea s Page 146 of 150 €, b that night (while still blindfolded), they were gu1ded into a large boat they commonly termed to as "kinaa1a, they were given life jackets and the large boat started sailing oII that night to an unknown destination.
For hours sailing on water in the night, they could only smell fear in the co1d, and that was the moment everyone had to say goodbye to their families (from within their heaits), or even hope of being ever found by their loved ones - that was it, they knew they were gone to serve a sentence whose duration is not known and for crimes they know nothing about- At that moment they knew they were only at the mercy of Col. Kaka who waste police, judge and executor.
That night, many became total strangers to justice and freedom, they had become victims to injustice their very own Government swore to protect them from, their rights, dreams and ambitions had been washed down the drain hole and little did they know that Chrlstmas, New year and all festive days would find them a.lone ard at an island, facirrg a sentence for crimes they knew nothing about and a sentence never pronounced by any court law.
A1l they knew was that the President had ordered the1r t (by firing squad) a ald only Col. Kaka had negotiated their freedom itants off the Island arrd On arrival at the lsland, Kaka had forced some in for those that had been left to stay on it, had been wamed to never interact with the prisoners" or face Col. Kaka's wrath.

At the Island, there was already a rumor of a local hshermal who had lost one eye on orders of Col. Kaka due to bad fishing."

So, the 1ocal inhabitants treated Col. Kaka like a God.
Kaka made them forget that Uganda actually had a President.

The local chairmal at that time is alleged to have been appointed by Col. Kaka and not actually voted by the people as is meant to be the case.

So, on arrival at the Island, the locals were already aware oI the orders to never interact with the "prisoners.'
On arrival, their proflles" had already been spread to the locals as murderers, rapists aIrd terrorists who were meant to be executed by the President but he had got a change of mind ald sent them there to serve tence.

Little did the locals know that these were irrnocent civilials most of hom with no criminal record whatsoever ald some below 18 years and little the locals know that these people were Kaka s own project ard not the govemment.
Due to ignorance arrd illiteracy, the locals could not even care to remember that the Island is not a prison.

A11 they cared about was the they had for Colonel Frank Bagzenda Col. Kaka.

At the Island, the victims found a bushy forest which they had to clear s to create sleeping grounds for themselves and for ttre ISO guards assigned to guard them.

They created a camp and not necessarily a prison.

Their initial beddings consisted of damp proofing polythere.
They had a roll, a]rd from the ground (acting as Page 147 of 150 cut two pieces, one to lay n the bushy 11, each one M," .-.v9 fl"i, w ss) and the second one for covering (acting as the blanket).

Posho the mat and beans had already been packed for them, they had been denied basic sanitary materials like toothbrushes and each one had to devise meals of maintaining personal hygiene.

( $ At the Island, they found other members (not victims but .rather Col. Kaka's assets) like Sobbi.
Sobbi was a criminal turned informer but working with arld for Kata.

He decided to stay at the Island fearing for his life that other security agencies would hunt him down due to his past criminal record.

Former Inspector General of Police, General KaIe Kayihura ald CMI once advocated for Sobbi's arrest but he evaded security ard sought protection of Col. Kaka when he became Director General of ISO, shortly before Kayihura was taken out of office (a move Sobbi celebrated).
He has avoided other security agencies to date and he decided to stay at the Island where he feels safer with Kaka.

Sobbi has never served sentence for his past crimes, but in one way or another when with Kata, he continues to get immunity as though he was given "Presidential pardon" for his past crimes including but not limited to self- confessed murders and armed robberies, all whose victims have never gotten justice to date.
However, reports aJe that Sobbi silently comes to mainland ents that Col. Kaka wants him to accomplish.
It is still and does some as / not understandable h movements are not detected by intelligence and security spending years d months at the Island arld in Kaka's halds, the Aft victims got used to living in isolation arld eventually got used to ttre ISO guards who Col. Kaka kept reshuffling time arrd again just to avoid the incidence of leakage that happened at the "saJe houses-" Unfortunately for Col. Kal<a, the guards became divided having realized that they were guarding innocent civilials.
Some of the guards begun loosening the restrictions which encouraged the "prisoners" to access the locals and there by getting access to one single phone through which information again leaked this time to Parliarnent directly and to relatives again.

The issue was laid before the ajliajnent which summoned Col. Kaka to answer for his actions.

Col. Kaka eliberately never tumed up since the Minister of Security; General Elly Tumwiine offered to alswer on his behalf.
To the shock of the victims, the minister was defending Col. Kaka's actions and also denying of any existence of people detained at alry Island.

He argued that people were only being detained in designated sa-fe houses as is the normal routine.

The Parliament *d'eiaalded to visit the designated saJe houses and they were blocked at al1 safe houses and told to get permission from Col. Kaka.
lhis occurrence picked it up became a matter ofinterest to stakeholders and suddenl Page 148 of 150 €l \Wffi When media picked it up, in the month of September 2019, Col. Kaka suddenly released his flrst l,ictims he had held at the Island for months arld years.

He released them without any charge, apologz or warning.

Just like they were suddenly "arrested," it's under the sarne way that they were suddenly released unconditionally.
However, on the day they are getting released, a message was passed on to them with clear instructions; They were instrr.rcted to stay silent about what had happened to them artd avoid media or face CoL Kaka's repercussions which included immediate court" which was technically understood as immediate execution (assassination).
In this regard, indeed some members who were part of the entire group have allegedly mysteriously gone missing and some found dead in their houses like one that s found having been strangled to death aIId another one was stoned to death by unknown people who have never been identified to date ) They were instmcted to make sure they are not found in Col. Kaka's path fo( as long as he.is still Dtector General of ISO, otherwise he would not hesitate to get them again.
And in this regard, Col. Kaka kept his word as he re ucted some even aJter releasing them initially.

There are some he had swore to never let go for as long as he is sti lSO director.

Indeed, he tracked em down arld re-abducted them but kept them in a totally new and isolated area.
It was later when he was suddenly relieved oI his duties by the president that those people were let go when CMI and SFC (sister security agencies), forcibly entered some saJe houses and got them out during arl operation allegedly ordered by the President.

While Kaka was doing all this, many relatives to the victims rushed to court to acquire the writ of 'habeas corpus" orders ald Kaka would tear them in front of the victims' presence.

That is how untouchable Col. Kata proved to be.


It is important to note that, each of these victims encountered different scenarios in the malner in which they were recruited or abducted by Kaka.

Some of these wictims include thosb abducted and those who were recruited by Col. Kaka and laler fell out with him due to his methods of work and decided to apologize to the victims and joined them in being witnesses agains Col. Kaka.
Some ofthese people have had direct engagements with Col. K At the making of this report, some victims still received threats from eith Col. Kalca or through his emissaries in an effort to discourage them making certain engagements through the public orjoining the course ofthose taking criminal and civil proceedings st him $r & ff=ootl'--'' Page 149 of 1 "l u- -Y sJ.
wag foflDard.lor these 7/ictims oJ torture Since their release, the victims decided to start up an informa.l organization (pending formalization), in which representatives were elected (such as those shown in this report ard others not identified), to spear head the mission of creating an organization through which they can coordinate in an organized marner aird create avenues for seekingjustice alrd leading to taking Col. Kal<a to court arld getting compensation as well.
Members have even labored to write to security agencies to seek a one-on-one meeting to express their dissatisfaction.

At the making of this report, no valuable feedback had been received.

w Through the sarne orga-nization the members look forward to establishing projects that can help members to collectively help each other revarnp financia-lly either on an individua.l level or group level.

Most victims, since their release, are in dire hnalcial situations and cal only be helped by fellow members.
Some are homeless and others cannot even allord a meal.
Through togetherness, each member's needs can be identified and collective solutions pensation for each member is offered as the ultimate goal of getting achieved d", Page 150 of 150 SIGNATURES OF APPROVAL FOR THE REPORT OF THE COMMITTED ON HUMAN RIGHTS ON THE INQUIRY INTO THE STATE OF HUMAN RIGHTS AND HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS IN THE COUNTRY SINCE JANUARY 2O2O TO.DATE Sl{lrr NAME I 9 10 11 l2 13 14 15 l6 Hon, Fox Odol Olrwelowo C/P Horr l}allr-t' e-o$ifd Mbabazt D/CP Hon.
Obig{ nose Hon.

Muwuma Milton Hon.

Kirabo Agnes Hon.

Ochai Maximus Hon.

Opolot Simon Peter Hon.

Tumrrine Anne Mar]r Hon.

Tayebwa Herbert Musasizi Hon.

Igeme Nathan Nabeta Hon.

Kasolo Robert Hon.

Kisembo Basemera Noeline Hon.

Mugabe Donozio Kaionda Hon.

Mugole Stephen Mauku Davrd Hon.

Asiimwe Musiime Mollv Hon.

Baba James Boliba Hon.

Musinguzi Yona Hon.

Werikhe Peter Chdstopher Hon.

Asaba Paul Hon.

Niyonsaba Alex Hon.

Ninkusiima John Paul Hon.
KitarJ,.\ra Sowedi SIGUATI'RE ,h, >'"'/t' CONSTITUTENCY West Budama North fnsf DWR Kagadi DWR Terego .PARTY NRM NRM NRM Kigulu South County NRM Youth Central NRM West Budama Countv NRM NRM NRM NRM NRM NRM NRM NRM NRM NRM NRM NRM NRM NRM NRM KanJ,.Lrm County DWR Ntoroko Kashongi County Ji4ja South Division East Iki Iki County DWR Kibaale Ruhinda South County Kabweri County Rwampara Couoty Koboko Countv Ntungamo Municipality Bubulo West County Kyaka North Bufumbira South Ibanda South Busongora County North ,->;4 CB^" r lfl-Rr Dh^ ,,2 P-'-#,-ll NRM @- { NRM Sl.c"!^E , 23 24 25 26 27 2a 29 30 31 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 4l 42 lq t Hon.
KeryaJrggaal€niBeh U L)U\A) .J Dodoth Eas+ Counq, NRM Hon.

Rwaburindore Tarsis Hon.

Businsre Peninah Hon.

Walyomu Muwanika Moses Hon.

Warna.la Nambozo Florence Hon.

Koluo Joseph Andrew Hon.

Obong Vincent Shedrick Hon.

Kabasharira Naome Hon.

Kayanga Baroda Hon.

Mwijulrye Francis Hon.

Okot Moses Hon.

Ekudo Tom Julius Hon.

Odur Jonathan Hon.

Okello Geofrev Charles Hon.

Nabukeera Hanifa Hon.

Zaake Francis Hon.

Ssegirinya Muhamad Hon.

Nabagabe Flavia Hon.

Mayanja Allan Hon.


Bainababo Charity (Bdg.

Gen.) Ibanda Municipality NRM Wil,htill Older Persons Central NRM ulul.r^t Kagoma DWR Sironko Toroma Countv INDEP INDEP INDEP Lira West Division INDEP Rushenyi County INDEP Kamuli Municipa.liry INDEP Buhweju Counq/ Kioga County Gweri County Erute South Nwoya East Mukono Dist ct FDC FDC FDC UPC DP NUP Mityana Municipality NUP Kawempe North Kassanda District Nakaseke Central UPDF NUP NUP NUP lHh*Y $i",* : KJ+- ffit.